Prototyping & Production Readiness Lead

VanTran Industries, Inc.; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

VanTran Industries, Inc. seeks a Prototyping Manager to lead the development and initial build of new products through prototype and into early production. You will bridge engineering and manufacturing, drive issues to resolution, and build scalable processes for repeatable production.

The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping oversight, design for manufacturability, and leadership of a cross-functional team to deliver high-quality, scalable prototypes in a fast-growing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field.
• 7+ years in manufacturing, product development, or prototyping environments.
• 2+ years of leadership or team management experience.
• Experience with new product introduction (NPI) or prototype-to-production transitions.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, assembly methods, and production workflows.
• Experience with issue tracking, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage prototyping activities from planning through review of initial product builds.
• Oversee hands-on assembly of prototype units ensuring alignment with specs.
• Identify, document, and track build issues including design gaps and quality risks.
• Drive root cause analysis and coordinate resolutions with engineering, quality, and supply chain.
• Establish documentation processes: build logs, work instructions, ECRs.
• Partner with design engineering to apply DFM and DFA principles.
• Develop processes to transition prototypes into pilot and full-scale production.
• Lead continuous improvement to reduce cycle time, increase yield, and cut costs.
• Build prototyping capabilities: tools, fixtures, workflows, and team structure.
• Coordinate with supply chain for timely prototype materials and alternates.
• Provide status updates to leadership on risks and readiness for production.
• Mentor and develop technicians and engineers fostering accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Problem solving

Execution mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing/Industrial Technology or related field

Tools

PLM systems

ERP systems

Engineering change management

Job description

VanTran Industries, Inc. seeks a Prototyping Manager to lead the development and initial build of new products through prototype and into early production. You will bridge engineering and manufacturing, drive issues to resolution, and build scalable processes for repeatable production.

The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping oversight, design for manufacturability, and leadership of a cross-functional team to deliver high-quality, scalable prototypes in a fast-growing environment.