Mechanical Operations Lab Lead

About Etched

Etched is building the world's first AI inference system purpose‑built for transformers — delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real‑time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain‑of‑thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top‑tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

Etched is looking for a Mechanical Lab Operations Lead to own the day‑to‑day operational backbone of our R&D and prototyping facility. This is a highly cross‑functional, hands‑on role responsible for everything required to keep a hybrid clean/dirty mechanical lab running seamlessly. You will manage a diverse footprint that spans a traditional machine shop, an advanced additive manufacturing and post‑processing facility, a high‑precision inspection area, and a large‑scale inventory/rack build space.

Reporting to the Head of Lab Operations, you will be the ultimate custodian of lab safety, machine uptime, asset tracking, and space workflow. You will partner directly with mechanical, thermal, and hardware validation engineers across multiple product lines to triage fabrication requests, manage material pipelines, enforce EH&S compliance, and maintain an environment where engineering can move at lightning speed without sacrificing organization or safety.

• Lab Operations & Machine Maintenance

  • Machine Shop Ownership: Supervise and maintain machine shop equipment, including manual/CNC mills, lathes, drill presses, band saws, chop saws, sheet metal brakes, and associated tooling. Ensure all machines are clean, lubricated, and safe for use.

  • 3D Printer Farm & Clean Lab Management: Oversee a high‑throughput additive manufacturing suite, including an FDM printer farm, SLA systems, and Nylon SLS/FDM printers. Manage post‑processing infrastructure, including bead blasters, compressors, fume hoods, and specialized ventilation equipment.

  • Equipment Commissioning & Calibration: Receive, position, and stand up incoming lab machinery. Maintain strict calibration and preventative maintenance schedules for precision instruments, including an Instron universal testing machine, microscopes, and granite surface inspection tables.

  • Vendor & Contractor Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment manufacturers, tooling suppliers, and external maintenance technicians.

• Safety, EH&S, & Environment Control

  • Enforce Shop Safety: Establish and enforce strict lab safety protocols, including machine guarding, personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance, and proper tool‑use certifications for engineering staff.

  • Hazardous Materials & Ventilation: Manage chemical, resin, and consumable inventories; ensure proper storage, safety data sheet (SDS) logging, and compliant hazardous waste disposal (resins, solvents, nylon powders).

  • Facilities Coordination: Partner with site services to manage lab infrastructure needs, including dedicated electrical drops, compressed air lines, exhaust systems, and facility chillers/PSUs.

• Inventory, Logistics, & Space Management

  • Inventory System Ownership: Keep real‑time counts of raw stock (aluminum, plastics), fasteners, structural components, cables, hoses, and project‑specific storage.

  • Rack Build & Assembly Logistics: Optimize the workflow of a dedicated Rack Build Area. Coordinate the intake of heavy infrastructure components and ensure staging areas are clear and organized for active engineering builds.

  • Procurement Workflows: Proactively flag low‑stock items and manage end‑to‑end procurement for lab shop consumables (endmills, blades, 3D printer filaments/resins, hardware).

• Request Triage & Engineering Support

  • Workflow Triage: Define and run an intake process for engineering fabrication, 3D printing, and assembly requests, ensuring clear prioritization across multiple parallel projects.

  • Layout Optimization: Continuously evaluate the physical workflow of the lab—refining the footprint of workbenches, tool chests, and…