Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

Apptronik
Austin, TX

Who this role is best for

Geared toward technical leaders comfortable with translating complex design into scalable manufacturing systems, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration in the robotics and manufacturing domain.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience in industrializing high-complexity hardware and leading cross-functional teams.
    — “You will build and lead the Manufacturing Engineering team, shape how products are industrialized, and partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain”
  • Individuals who have shaped manufacturing processes for robotics or precision mechanisms and driven yield improvements.
    — “Own improvement of first-pass yield, defects, rework, cycle time, and process capability”
  • Candidates with a proven track record in manufacturing definition, process validation, and technical transfer to contract manufacturers.
    — “Own Manufacturing Engineering readiness for pilot builds, production ramp, change implementation, and Contract Manufacturer technical transfer”

Things to consider

  • This role involves a significant amount of travel, averaging 15% of time annually.
    — “Ability to travel domestically and internationally, averaging 15% per year”
  • Candidates must be able to work in operational areas with robotic systems and maintain situational awareness.
    — “Ability to move throughout operational areas and maintain awareness of surrounding people, equipment, and robotic systems”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in translating design inputs into production-ready manufacturing systems.
    — “translating design and build learnings into scalable processes, tooling, documentation, and production readiness”
  • Emphasize your background in DFM/DFA, PFMEA, and process validation to align with key technical requirements.
    — “Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA, PFMEA, SPC, DOE, process validation, and root-cause analysis”
  • Showcase your leadership in cross-functional teams and your ability to drive accountability and deliver results.
    — “Proven ability to lead technical teams and drive cross-functional accountability”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • built and developed the Manufacturing Engineering team
  • led Manufacturing Engineering engagement during early builds
  • established manufacturing standards and systems required for scale
  • improved first-pass yield, defects, rework, cycle time, and process capability
  • owned Manufacturing Engineering readiness for pilot builds, production ramp, change implementation, and Contract Manufacturer technical transfer
Typical background
strong background in complex hardware manufacturing, NPI, process development, tooling, and production industrialization

Skills & requirements

Required

Complex Hardware ManufacturingNPIProcess DevelopmentToolingProduction IndustrializationMbomsBopsPLMERPMESDfm/dfaPfmeaSPCDOEProcess ValidationRoot-cause AnalysisTeam LeadershipCross-functional AccountabilityCommunicationPrioritization

Preferred

High Degree-of-freedom Electromechanical AssembliesRoboticsPrecision MechanismsActuators

Stack & domain

Manufacturing EngineeringMbomsBopsPLMERPMESDfm/dfaPfmeaSPCDOEProcess ValidationRoot-cause AnalysisLeadershipCommunicationRobotics

About the role

Original posting from Apptronik via Greenhouse

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.

We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

The Manager, Manufacturing Engineering will play a key leadership role in scaling complex hardware from early engineering builds into repeatable production. You will build and lead the Manufacturing Engineering team, shape how products are industrialized, and partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to turn ambitious designs into robust manufacturing systems.

This role owns the technical foundation of production—including process development, tooling, manufacturing definition, production readiness, and yield improvement. You will have the opportunity to influence product design early, establish the manufacturing standards and systems required for scale, and directly impact quality, cost, throughput, and the company’s ability to ramp new products successfully.

Key Accountabilities

Team Leadership: Build and develop the Manufacturing Engineering team, establish priorities and ownership, and ensure effective technical support from prototype through production.

Industrialization & NPI: Lead Manufacturing Engineering engagement during early builds, translating design and build learnings into scalable processes, tooling, documentation, and production readiness.

Manufacturing Definition & Systems: Own MBOMs, Bills of Process, operation sequencing, and Work Instruction standards. Ensure EBOM-to-MBOM alignment and successful integration with PLM, ERP, and MES systems.

Process, Tooling & DFM: Own manufacturing process development, tooling and fixture strategy, DFM/DFA, PFMEA, and process validation to ensure products are ready for repeatable production.

Yield & Manufacturing Performance: Own improvement of first-pass yield, defects, rework, cycle time, and process capability. Drive cross-functional root-cause investigations and corrective actions for systemic manufacturing issues.

Production Readiness & Scale: Own Manufacturing Engineering readiness for pilot builds, production ramp, change implementation, and Contract Manufacturer technical transfer. Escalate risks that threaten quality, schedule, or production readiness.

Skills & Requirements

Strong background in complex hardware manufacturing, NPI, process development, tooling, and production industrialization.

Experience with MBOMs, BOPs, PLM, ERP, MES, and engineering change management.

Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA, PFMEA, SPC, DOE, process validation, and root-cause analysis.

Proven ability to lead technical teams and drive cross-functional accountability.

Strong communication skills with the ability to navigate conflict, deliver difficult feedback, and build trust across teams.

Experience prioritizing work, delegating effectively, and balancing team capacity with business needs

Experience with high degree-of-freedom electromechanical assemblies, robotics, precision mechanisms, or actuation systems is a plus.

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

7+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience, including 2+ years of technical or people leadership.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Periods of sitting at a workstation and working on a computer

Ability to safely lift and/or move approximately 15 pounds at times.

Ability to move throughout operational areas and maintain awareness of surrounding people, equipment, and robotic systems.

Visual ability necessary to operate equipment, monitor robotic systems, and read printed and digital material

Ability to communicate effectively with team members during normal operations and when responding to safety or operational concern

Ability to travel domestically and internationally, averaging 15% per year

*This is a direct hire.  Please, no outside Agency solicitations. 

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Source: Apptronik careers (Greenhouse)

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