Manufacturing Engineer

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At Vital Lyfe, we are on a mission to solve global water scarcity by creating innovative desalination systems. This is an opportunity to join a passionate, multidisciplinary team tackling one of the world’s most critical challenges.

• Design, develop and optimize manufacturing processes and production lines for our desalination systems—from first builds through high‑rate production.
• Lead DFM/DFA initiatives: tooling, fixtures, robot end‑effectors, conveyors, automation programming, control systems.
• Work cross‑functionally to select equipment, define cycle‑times, yield targets, cost‑per‑unit, quality metrics.
• Develop work instructions, process flows, layout designs; implement and validate manufacturing methods for new systems.
• Own continuous improvement efforts: reduce cost, increase throughput, improve reliability and uptime in a fast‑moving hardware startup environment.
• Collaborate with procurement, quality, test, integration teams and external vendors/suppliers to ensure smooth scale‑up & ramp‑out of manufacturing.

• Bachelor’s in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or equivalent).
• 2+ years professional experience in manufacturing engineering, process development or production optimization (including internships).
• Strong CAD (Solid Works / other) experience and familiarity with manufacturing automation, tooling & fixture design.
• Hands‑on mindset: comfortable designing the process and also working with operators & equipment to validate and refine.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, ability to operate in an ambiguous/higher‑growth environment, clear communicator across teams.

• Experience in consumer hardware production, or systems with high‑volume manufacturing.
• Knowledge of pumps, valves, pressure vessels, fluid systems or broadly mechanical‑hardware manufacturing.
• Experience with automation programming, conveyors, robotics, fluid/pressure equipment.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical process control (SPC).
• Experience in a hardware startup or mission‑driven organization.

• Hands‑on work on development hardware.
• Long periods of standing, crouching, walking.
• Lifting up to 50 lbs.

• Work on high‑impact problems with global relevance.
• Help scale breakthrough technology in water security and climate resilience.
• Early ownership in a high‑growth, engineering‑led startup.
• Join a tight‑knit, mission‑driven team in a fast‑paced environment.
• Build long‑term career equity as we grow.