Lab Manager - Mechanical, Audio, & Optical

About Sesame

Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike - with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in ways that feel natural and human. With this vision, we're designing a new kind of computer, focused on making voice agents part of our daily lives. Our team brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise spanning hardware and software. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Sesame AI is building deeply integrated hardware + AI products and is seeking a hands-on Lab Manager to lead and scale our hardware development environment. This role owns the day-to-day operations of the lab including prototyping equipment operation, equipment uptime, inventory management, safety, vendor coordination, and build logistics enabling engineers to move quickly and efficiently. You’ll work closely with mechanical, audio, vision, and manufacturing teams to support rapid prototyping, bring-up, testing, and early production builds. The ideal candidate thrives in high-ambiguity startup environments, brings strong operational discipline, and enjoys building systems that scale alongside the company.

Responsibilities:

• Engage and manage fabrication metal/plastic parts for prototypes.

• Manage lab space, equipment, supplies, and inventory.

• Keep EE/ME labs fully operational, organized, and ready for daily engineering use.

• Own lab equipment uptime and consumables, proactively preventing downtime on high-use tools.

• Operate and post-process 3D prints (FDM/resin).

• Partner with Facilities and vendors to build, expand, and maintain engineering lab spaces.

• Execute lab work with an understanding of engineering intent and downstream impact.

• Serve as a responsive point of contact via Slack/email, escalating issues as needed.

• Attend meetings and vendor interactions with professionalism, punctuality, and follow-through.

• Continuously improve lab workflows based on feedback and hands-on experience.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in consumer electronics or related.

• On-site role that support hands-on engineering and real-time needs.

• Understanding of mechanical drawings.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Safety conscious, dependable, and positive attitude.

• Ability and interest to solve problems outside of your expertise.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous startup experience.

Sesame is committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome all qualified applicants, embracing diversity in race, gender, identity, orientation, ability, and more. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities—contact careers@sesame.com for assistance.

Full-time Employee Benefits: 

• 401 (k) max employer match: 3.5% of compensation

• 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits for you and your dependents

• Unlimited PTO and sick time

• Flexible spending account with employer matching up to $1,650/year (medical FSA)

• Guardian Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Opportunity to share in the company's success with competitive stock options

Benefits do not apply to contingent/contract workers.