Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Watney

San Francisco, CA

On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience designing high-volume manufacturing systems for data center hardware and thrive in startup environments.

Best fit for

Candidates with hands-on automation experience in data center hardware assembly and a background in robotic system integration
— “Work closely with robotics, controls, electrical, and software engineers to integrate mechanical equipment into complete robotic systems.”
Individuals who can rapidly prototype and deploy automation solutions under tight schedules
— “Move quickly from customer requirements and early concepts to working prototypes and production-ready solutions.”
Engineers with a track record of designing mechanical components for production-scale systems
— “Design mechanical components and assemblies including machined, sheet metal, plastic, and 3D printed parts.”

Things to consider

The role demands direct customer interaction and translation of vague requirements into functional hardware
— “Work directly with customers to understand their products and manufacturing challenges and translate requirements into actionable engineering solutions.”
Candidates must be prepared to troubleshoot across mechanical, electrical, and robotics domains during development and production
— “Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, robotics, and manufacturing issues during development and production ramp.”

How to stand out

Emphasize your experience with end-to-end automation system deployment, not just design
— “Experience working with manufacturing teams to take designs from prototype through production ramp.”
Showcase your familiarity with data center rack assembly and cable management systems in your portfolio
— “Develop automated processes and equipment for fiber-optic cable assembly, routing, handling, and cable management.”

Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

designing fixtures and tooling
developing automation concepts

Typical background

mechanical engineering experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical DesignHigh-volume Hardware Product DesignMechatronic Equipment DesignManufacturing Process Development

Preferred

Data Center Rack AssemblyFiber-optic Cable Assembly

Stack & domain

Mechanical DesignProduction HardwareToolingFixturesAutomation EquipmentFiber-optic Cable AssemblyRoutingHandlingCable ManagementMechatronic EquipmentManufacturing ProcessesProduction FlowsWork InstructionsRoboticsControlsElectricalSoftwareMechanical ComponentsAssembliesMachined PartsSheet MetalPlastic3D Printed PartsManufacturing EquipmentProcessesProduction LinesMechanical EquipmentComplete Robotic SystemsMechanicalManufacturingTroubleshootingHardware DesignBuildTestDebugHardwareData Center RacksServersCable SystemsRelated HardwareMechanismsMotorsActuatorsSensorsPlasticsRobotic SystemsDesign For AutomationEnd EffectorsReliable Robotic AssemblyProblem-solvingTeamworkLeadershipCommunicationNullAutomationData Center

About the role

Original posting from Watney via Ashby

OUR MISSION
Expand human ambition in the physical world.
Critical infrastructure is constrained by labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, and operational complexity. Watney builds and deploys autonomous robotic systems that increase the speed and capacity of buildout, starting with data centers.
About the Role
At Watney, Senior Manufacturing Engineers turn robotic automation concepts into production-ready manufacturing systems.
This is a hands-on, fast-moving engineering role focused on automating the assembly of data center racks and related hardware. You will be expected to move quickly from customer requirements and early concepts to working prototypes and production-ready solutions. You will design fixtures, tooling, mechatronic equipment, and manufacturing processes; develop automation concepts; and work directly with customers to turn urgent manufacturing needs into practical solutions.
What You'll Do
Design fixtures, tooling, mechanisms, and mechatronic equipment to enable robotic assembly of data center racks and related hardware.
Develop innovative concepts to automate manufacturing and assembly processes, moving rapidly from concept and prototype through production deployment.
Make sound engineering tradeoffs and deliver working hardware against aggressive customer and production schedules.
Develop automated processes and equipment for fiber-optic cable assembly, routing, handling, and cable management.
Design mechanical components and assemblies including machined, sheet metal, plastic, and 3D printed parts.
Develop manufacturing processes, production flows, and work instructions for new and automated production lines.
Work closely with robotics, controls, electrical, and software engineers to integrate mechanical equipment into complete robotic systems.
Work directly with customers to understand their products and manufacturing challenges and translate requirements into actionable engineering solutions.
Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, robotics, and manufacturing issues during development and production ramp.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
Experience designing and launching high-volume hardware products and manufacturing processes.
Strong hands-on mechanical design experience with production hardware, tooling, fixtures, or automation equipment.
Experience working with manufacturing teams to take designs from prototype through production ramp.
You May Be A Good Fit If You
Are a hands-on mechanical or mechatronics engineer who likes to design, build, test, and debug hardware.
Understand how data center racks, servers, cable systems, and related hardware are designed and assembled.
Have strong mechanical design skills and experience with mechanisms, motors, actuators, sensors, plastics, machined parts, sheet metal, and cable management.
Understand robotic systems and design for automation, including fixtures, tooling, end effectors, and the practical requirements for reliable robotic assembly.
Can look at a manual manufacturing operation and develop creative, practical ways to automate it.
Have experience taking manufacturing equipment or processes from concept through production deployment.
Thrive in a startup environment where priorities move quickly, schedules are aggressive, and engineers are expected to take ownership and get hardware working.
Can communicate directly with customers and turn loosely defined manufacturing problems into working hardware and production processes.
We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive team. At Watney Robotics, we welcome people of all backgrounds and identities, and we make hiring decisions based on skills, experience, and potential. If you’re passionate about robotics but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply!
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE?
Follow us here on X https://x.com/watneyrobotics/ and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/watneyrobotics/about/

Source: Watney careers (Ashby)