Shop & Lab Lead: Prototyping, Tools & Safety

Socket.dev; Andover (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Reframe Systems is seeking a Mechanical Shop & Lab Manager to own FAB1's machine shop, a fully equipped space with mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding equipment, and 3D printers. This hands-on, full-time role offers autonomy and responsibility for training programs and safety.

You will manage space, maintain equipment, track tooling, and develop structured trainings so employees can operate machines safely and confidently.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in a machine shop, fab shop, or similar environment.
• Deep working knowledge of mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding, and 3D printing.
• Experience training others on shop equipment and safety procedures, or strong instinct for how to build that kind of program from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Own the Space: Be the single point of accountability for the machine shop and lab — layout, organization, cleanliness, and day-to-day operations.
• Maintain the Equipment: Run preventive maintenance schedules, troubleshoot and repair machine issues, and manage relationships with service vendors and suppliers.
• Manage Tooling and Consumables: Track inventory, reorder consumables before they run out, and make purchasing decisions on new tooling and equipment.
• Formalize Training and Access: Help build structured trainings so employees can safely get checked out on mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding, 3D printing, and other equipment. Define who's allowed to use what, and enforce it.
• Set the Safety Standard: Establish and enforce shop safety protocols — PPE requirements, machine-specific safety procedures, emergency procedures — and keep the space compliant and audit-ready.
• Make the Shop Accessible: Act as the go-to resource for anyone in the company who wants to use the space, from experienced engineers to first-timers, and remove the friction that currently keeps people out.
• Support Projects: Develop functional electro-mechanical prototypes, fixture-building, and fabrication for active FAB1 projects when shop operations allow.

Skills

Hands-on shop experience

Training others

Strong communicator

Highly organized

Autonomy

Tools

Mills

Lathes

Laser cutters

Welding

3D printing

Job description

Reframe Systems is seeking a Mechanical Shop & Lab Manager to own FAB1's machine shop, a fully equipped space with mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding equipment, and 3D printers. This hands-on, full-time role offers autonomy and responsibility for training programs and safety.

You will manage space, maintain equipment, track tooling, and develop structured trainings so employees can operate machines safely and confidently.