Director of Manufacturing

We are seeking a Director of Manufacturing to own the complete manufacturing and supply chain operations of our Light Cell product line. You will be responsible for ramping assembly throughput, managing internal production, building and scaling our vendor network, and ensuring delivery of high-quality products on schedule. This is a hands‑on leadership role that demands both strategic thinking and operational excellence — you'll spend time in the lab and on the factory floor while also setting the vision for how we manufacture at scale.

You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with our CTO, CGO, Chief Engineer, and the broader operations team. This role is critical to our growth and will carry significant equity participation and a clear path to VP of Operations or Chief Operating Officer.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We're scaling from small‑scale assembly to low rate production, with larger production to follow. Our current team assembles units in‑house with a mix of internal work and strategic vendor partnerships. Over the next 18 months, we need to:

• Scale from tens to hundreds of units per year without sacrificing quality
• Transition from hand assembly to repeatable, documented, scalable processes
• Build and manage a network of precision vendors (brazing, metal fabrication, electronics, coatings)
• Achieve consistent delivery timelines and cost targets as design matures
• Lay the groundwork for potential manufacturing partnerships or contract manufacturing as we grow beyond 50+ employees

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Assembly Operations & Manufacturing Engineering

• Oversee all aspects of in‑house assembly, quality control, and production scheduling
• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the assembly workflow; drive efficiency improvements through process redesign and automation opportunities
• Develop and continuously improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all production activities
• Manage assembly staffing, training, and quality culture; build a team that takes pride in their work
• Implement production control systems (visual management, inventory tracking, scheduling) appropriate for our scale
• Work closely with R&D to ensure designs are manufacturable and can scale efficiently
• Source, qualify, and manage relationships with critical vendors (metal fabrication, brazing, coatings, electronics, precision components)
• Negotiate contracts, manage costs, and ensure on‑time delivery from all suppliers
• Establish quality standards and inspection protocols with vendors; drive continuous improvement
• Develop contingency plans and diversify the vendor base for critical components to reduce supply chain risk
• Coordinate vendor performance reviews and elevate issues proactively
• Build long‑term partnerships with vendors who can grow with us

Quality & Compliance

• Establish and enforce quality checkpoints throughout assembly and testing
• Implement traceability and documentation systems to support customer delivery and warranty management
• Prepare for and drive certifications (ISO 9001, as appropriate) or customer‑specific quality requirements
• Investigate and resolve quality issues; implement corrective actions
• Manage product testing and field feedback loops to inform manufacturing improvements
• Develop a manufacturing roadmap that anticipates volume growth and infrastructure needs
• Make build‑vs‑buy decisions on key manufacturing capabilities (which processes to keep in‑house vs. outsource)
• Plan for facility needs, equipment, and staffing as production scales from current levels to 500+/year
• Explore manufacturing partnerships or contract manufacturers if and when internal scaling becomes uneconomical
• Drive cost reduction initiatives without compromising quality as production scales
• Build and lead a growing operations team (assembly technicians, quality inspector, supply chain coordinator)
• Create a manufacturing culture focused on quality, continuous improvement, and safety
• Mentor junior team members and develop future supervisors
• Collaborate effectively with R&D, finance, and sales teams to balance innovation, profitability, and delivery

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or…