Prototype & Production Lab Manager (Navy Systems)

Arcfield; Middletown (RI); On-site; USD 102,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcfield in Rhode Island seeks a Prototype & Production Lab Manager to run a specialized prototype and low-volume production lab for a U.S. Navy contract. You will manage daily operations, serve as SME bridging design and production, and perform hands-on fabrication, assembly, and RF testing.

The role requires strong mechanical, electrical/RF hands-on skills and producibility review of designs for ruggedized naval use. You will lead BOM oversight, tool maintenance, and safe lab operations.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in prototyping, manufacturing engineering, or a highly technical lab management role.
• Mechanical & Material SME with knowledge of assembly, fabrication processes, and materials for ruggedized naval applications.
• TDP & BOM proficiency: read, interpret, and critique complex drawings, schematics and TDPs.
• Hands-on electrical: cable/harness building, routing, and precision soldering.
• RF expertise: strong understanding of RF principles and testing.
• Equipment mastery: proficient with a FieldFox analyzer for RF measurements.
• Navy/DoD familiarity: understanding deployment of RF systems on Navy platforms.
• Problem solver: bridge between engineering drawings and what can actually be built.
• Education levels: BS, MS, PhD requirements with security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage incoming work requests for prototype/production lab and prioritize to meet deadlines.
• Oversee BOM management and sourcing of components for prototypes and production builds.
• Maintain lab equipment, tools, and inventory for safe, efficient operations.
• Act as SME translating engineering drawings into manufacturing steps and assess producibility.
• Review technical data packages for design weaknesses and manufacturing hurdles.
• Provide feedback on tolerances, machining, and assembly feasibility.
• Perform mechanical assembly and prototype fabrication from schematics and drawings.
• Build and terminate custom electrical cables and wire harnesses to standards.
• Solder circuit boards, connectors, and internal wiring.
• Test RF components and systems, verify impedance matching and VSWR.

Skills

RF Expertise

Hands-on Electrical

TDP & BOM Proficiency

Mechanical & Material SME

Problem Solver

Security Clearance

Navy/DoD Familiarity

Active DoD Security Clearance

Education

BS degree

MS degree

PhD

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

Responsibilities

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and versatile Prototype & Production Lab Manager to run a specialized prototype and low-volume production lab in support of a U.S. Navy Engineering Service Contract. In this dynamic role, you will wear multiple hats: you will manage the daily operations and workflow of the lab, serve as the technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) bridging the gap between engineering design and physical production, and perform hands‑on fabrication, assembly, and testing.

The ideal candidate possesses a unique blend of mechanical expertise, hands‑on electrical/RF skills, and a deep understanding of manufacturing processes. You will review engineering designs to ensure they are physically producible, ruggedized for naval applications, and optimized for manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities:

Lab Management & Operations

• Manage all incoming work requests for the prototype/production lab, prioritizing tasks to meet project deadlines.
• Oversee Bill of Materials (BOM) management; ensure the correct components, hardware, and materials are sourced and ordered for all prototype and production builds.
• Maintain lab equipment, tools, and inventory to ensure a safe and highly efficient working environment.

Engineering Design Review & Producibility (SME)

• Act as the primary SME for translating engineering drawings into actionable manufacturing steps.
• Review Technical Data Packages (TDPs) to identify design weaknesses, missing information, or manufacturing hurdles before production begins (Design for Manufacturability).
• Recommend material substitutions, structural enhancements, and design adjustments to ensure prototypes are sufficiently robust for harsh Navy operational environments.
• Provide actionable feedback to the engineering team regarding tolerances, machining, and assembly feasibility.

Hands‑on Prototyping & Technical Fabrication

• Perform mechanical assembly and prototype fabrication based on complex schematics and mechanical drawings.
• Build, route, and terminate custom electrical cables and wire harnesses to military/industry standards.
• Perform high‑quality soldering for circuit boards, connectors, and internal wiring.

RF Testing & System Integration

• Utilize Keysight FieldFox handheld analyzers (and similar test equipment) to test, troubleshoot, and validate RF components and systems.
• Apply a deep understanding of Radio Frequencies (RF) to evaluate how components will integrate and perform within broader U.S. Navy communication, radar, and electronic warfare systems.
• Verify impedance matching, insertion loss, VSWR, and overall RF system integrity on completed assemblies.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: 7+ years of experience in prototyping, manufacturing engineering, or a highly technical lab management role, preferably within the defense or aerospace sector.
• Mechanical & Material SME: Extensive knowledge of mechanical assembly, fabrication processes, and material sciences (knowing what metals, plastics, or composites to use for specific ruggedized applications).
• TDP & BOM Proficiency: Proven ability to read, interpret, and critique complex Engineering Drawings, schematics, and Technical Data Packages (TDPs).
• Hands‑on Electrical: Demonstrated expertise in custom cable/harness building, routing, and precision soldering.
• RF Expertise: Strong working knowledge of Radio Frequency (RF) principles and practical experience testing RF systems.
• Equipment Mastery: Hands‑on proficiency using a FieldFox analyzer (Network/Spectrum Analyzer) for RF measurements.
• Navy/DoD Familiarity: Understanding of how RF systems are deployed and utilized within U.S. Navy platforms and environments.
• Problem Solver: Exceptional critical thinking skills to bridge the gap between "what the engineer drew" and "what can actually be built."
• BS 10-12, MS 8-10, PhD 5-7
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active DoD Security Clearance (Secret or higher).
• Prior military service in a technical/RF/electronics rating (e.g., Navy ET, FC, CTT, or AT) or extensive experience as a defense contractor.
• Certifications in soldering and cable assembly (e.g., IPC J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620).
• Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) to view and manipulate models.

Equal Pay Act

This is the projected compensation range for this position. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, Arcfield ’s benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.Min: $101,651.11Max: $176,751.55

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law.