Prototype Shop Manager - CNC & Hardware Fabrication Lead

Sesame HR; Bellevue (KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) max employer match

Employer-paid health, vision, dental

Unlimited PTO and sick time

Flexible spending account

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Stock options

Job summary

Sesame, a hardware + AI company, is building a fabrication shop and prototype line in Bellevue, WA. The Fabrication Shop Manager will design and operate a CNC-centric proto shop, lead engineers and technicians, and ensure repeatable, production-representative processes for plastics and metals.

You will drive layout, equipment selection, and vendor management, while partnering with engineering to meet program milestones and maintain safety standards in a hands-on onsite role.

Qualifications

• Over 12 years in prototype machine shop, pilot line, or manufacturing engineering roles.
• Experience managing a shop or team for 3+ years.
• Hands-on CNC setup, fixturing and CAM basics; joining/forming processes.
• Experience standing up or expanding a shop or line: layout, procurement, commissioning.
• Strong knowledge of drawings, GD&T, metrology, and common materials.
• Proven ability to hire and lead technicians and manage vendors to schedule and budget.
• Clear written and verbal communication; safety-first mindset; onsite in Bellevue, WA.

Responsibilities

• Design a functional, flexible proto shop space for current and future needs.
• Drive equipment selection, utilities, safety, and IT; manage install and commissioning.
• Develop and document CNC processes for metal and plastic; fixture design.
• Use metrology and CT scanning to qualify parts against drawings and GD&T.
• Run shop operations: scheduling, tracking, uptime, inventory, budget, and safety.
• Hire, grow, and lead CNC engineers and operators; manage external vendors as needed.
• Coordinate with engineering to align proto line schedules with milestones.

Skills

CNC machining

CAM basics

GD&T & metrology

Shop leadership

Equipment layout & procurement

Safety leadership

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Mastercam

Hypermill

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

CT scanning

Job description

Sesame, a hardware + AI company, is building a fabrication shop and prototype line in Bellevue, WA. The Fabrication Shop Manager will design and operate a CNC-centric proto shop, lead engineers and technicians, and ensure repeatable, production-representative processes for plastics and metals.

You will drive layout, equipment selection, and vendor management, while partnering with engineering to meet program milestones and maintain safety standards in a hands-on onsite role.