Prototyping Lab & Fabrication Leader (Hybrid)

Matrix Research, Inc; Dayton (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% retirement plan

4 weeks vacation

Subsidized health and dental insurance

Discretionary annual bonuses

Hybrid remote work environment

Job summary

Matrix Research is looking for an experienced Prototyping Labs & Fabrication Manager to lead our fabrication, electronics assembly, and unmanned flight-testing facilities in Dayton, Ohio. The role oversees Mechanical Fabrication Lab, Electronics Assembly Lab, and Drone Flight/Testing Facility, directing safety, calibration, budgeting, and multi-project scheduling.

You will drive business development to secure prototyping contracts with DoD, primes, and commercial customers while supervising a

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience spanning mechanical design/fabrication, prototyping lab operations, and technical business development.
• Hands-on background in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and rapid prototyping (e.g., CNC machining, subtractive/additive manufacturing, sheet metal, structural fixtures, ruggedized enclosures).
• Demonstrated success in technical capture and business development, specifically marketing fabrication, rapid-turn prototyping, or custom mechanical packaging services to external partners (DoD, defense primes, or commercial customers).
• Experience managing laboratory or prototyping facility operations, including equipment maintenance/calibration, safety protocols, and capital expenditure (CapEx) planning.
• Familiarity with tracking laboratory utilization, budgeting, and managing facility hourly rates (e.g., DCAA-compliant service centers).
• Proven leadership ability to supervise a technical team (technicians, mechanical engineers, software specialists) and prioritize facility demand across multiple concurrent project commitments.
• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and industry certifications.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens capable of obtaining and maintaining a U.S. DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a dedicated team of engineers and technicians across our Mechanical Fabrication Lab, Electronics Assembly Lab, and Drone Flight/Testing Facility.
• Balance and schedule laboratory utilization across existing multidisciplinary contract needs while actively marketing our rapid prototyping, custom machining, and mechanical integration capabilities to external DoD, prime, and commercial customers.
• Oversee facility safety, equipment calibration, capital expenditure planning, and labor/service rates within our defense-compliant operational framework.

Job description

Matrix Research is looking for an experienced Prototyping Labs & Fabrication Manager to lead our fabrication, electronics assembly, and unmanned flight-testing facilities in Dayton, Ohio. The role oversees Mechanical Fabrication Lab, Electronics Assembly Lab, and Drone Flight/Testing Facility, directing safety, calibration, budgeting, and multi-project scheduling.

You will drive business development to secure prototyping contracts with DoD, primes, and commercial customers while supervising a