Manufacturing Engineer

• Plan and manage hardware builds, from prototype through low-volume production—scheduling, kitting, and coordinating across engineering and vendors.
• Track build status, bills of materials, and part availability to keep builds on schedule.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing bottlenecks and design‑for‑manufacturability issues in coordination with design engineers.
• Own the day‑to‑day operation of the lab and shop floor—layout, equipment, tooling, consumables, and safety.
• Maintain and calibrate shop and test equipment; manage service and maintenance schedules.
• Establish and enforce shop floor practices, workflows, and safety standards.
• Specify and source equipment as needed.
• Own the receiving process—inspection, verification against POs, and intake into inventory.
• Establish incoming and in‑process quality checks; track and resolve nonconformances with suppliers.
• Manage returns, rework, and supplier quality issues.
• Source components and services—identify, qualify, and develop vendors for hardware builds and ATG projects.
• Own vendor relationships and follow‑up—drive on‑time delivery, resolve issues, and hold suppliers accountable.
• Manage ordering and inventory—place orders, track stock, and keep parts available to support builds.
• Create and maintain build and deployment documentation—work instructions, assembly procedures, test protocols, and deployment guides.
• Establish and own documentation control—revision management, BOM control, and change management for hardware and procedures.
• Ensure documentation stays current as designs evolve and is accessible to the teams building and deploying in the field.
• Proactively resolve bottlenecks with Field Ops and Exploration teams to get gear to site.
• Assist with documentation for field deployment - assembly instructions, calibrations, validations.
• Provide DFX feedback to in progress designs of new equipment.
• Resolve technical issues with parts, assemblies and systems as they are encountered during fabrication, build, assembly and test.

• Degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering (or equivalent education/experience).
• 3-5 years in manufacturing, production, or hardware build engineering, ideally in a prototype‑to‑low‑volume environment.
• Hands‑on experience managing hardware builds and shop/lab environments.
• Experience with sourcing and vendor development
• Experience with inventory and materials management
• Working knowledge of BOM management, revision control, and documentation control practices.
• Strong project management skills—able to track multiple concurrent builds, deadlines, and stakeholders without dropping balls.
• Comfortable working directly with design engineers and translating between design intent and buildable, documented processes.
• Detail‑oriented, organized, and self‑directed in a fast‑paced, ambiguous environment.
• Proficiency with standard business tools (Google Docs/Sheets)
• Ability to work in an office in Berkeley on a daily basis. Able to travel up to 5-10%.

Demonstrates expertise in managing hardware builds and production processes, with a strong focus on vendor development, inventory management, and documentation control. Proficient in project management and capable of resolving technical issues in a fast‑paced environment.

• Hardware Build Management
• Vendor Development
• Inventory Management
• BOM Management
• Project Management

• Mechanical Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Documentation Control
• Quality Checks
• Design-for-Manufacturability
• Calibration
• Assembly Procedures
• Test Protocols
• Change Management

• Detail-Oriented
• Organized
• Self-Directed
• Problem-Solving
• Communication

• Prototype-to-Low-Volume Production
• Manufacturing Bottlenecks
• Shop Floor Practices
• Safety Standards
• Field Deployment

• Google Docs
• Google Sheets