Head of Manufacturing – Build and Scale a Next-Generation Precision Hardware Factory!

Gardena, CA | On-site

Opportunity Summary

A venture-backed advanced hardware company is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to architect and scale a world-class production operation from the ground up. This organization is building cutting-edge electro-optical technology that will power the next wave of high-performance computing, communications, and advanced industrial systems. As Head of Manufacturing, you will define and execute the manufacturing engineering strategy across the factory. You will scale production lines, deploy automated cells, improve yield and throughput, and build the team required to support sustained high-volume output. This role is ideal for a hands-on manufacturing leader who thrives in both structured high-volume environments and fast-moving startup settings where systems must be built, refined, and optimized in parallel.

About Us

We are a rapidly growing deep-tech hardware company focused on advancing precision electro-optical systems for high-performance applications. Our team is composed of experienced engineers and operators who have built and scaled complex hardware in demanding environments. With strong technical validation and increasing production demand, we are investing heavily in automation, factory systems, and operational excellence to enable scalable, reliable manufacturing at meaningful volume.

Job Duties

• Lead overall manufacturing engineering strategy and factory execution, including line expansion, capacity planning, and production readiness for new product introductions
• Design, implement, and scale automated production cells for precision electro-mechanical and optical assemblies, integrating robotics, alignment systems, inspection platforms, and automated test equipment
• Partner closely with mechanical, process, and product engineering teams to drive design for manufacturability and design for assembly throughout product development
• Establish and continuously improve production workflows, line layouts, material movement strategies, and traceability systems to support increasing complexity and volume
• Own hardware-side MES integration and production data infrastructure to enable real-time visibility, traceability, and data-driven decision-making
• Drive performance across key factory metrics including yield, scrap, throughput, uptime, cycle time, and reliability, implementing systematic improvement initiatives
• Build and scale the manufacturing engineering organization, including hiring, mentoring, and developing production engineering and leadership talent
• Collaborate with supply chain and procurement teams to qualify materials and components, ensuring supplier quality aligns with production yield objectives
• Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, process control plans, qualification procedures, and production standards
• Provide hands-on leadership on the production floor, resolving issues quickly while strengthening long-term systems and processes

Qualifications

• Proven experience scaling automated production lines from pilot and NPI phases into sustained high-volume manufacturing
• Strong expertise in automation integration, production cell architecture, and manufacturing systems engineering
• Demonstrated ownership of yield improvement and production ramp performance in complex hardware environments
• Experience building and leading manufacturing engineering teams, including hiring and organizational development
• Cross-functional collaboration experience with mechanical, process, and product engineering teams
• Experience implementing or enhancing MES platforms and factory data systems
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills
• Willingness to support production needs outside standard business hours when required

Preferred Experience

• Background in semiconductor, photonics, advanced packaging, or precision electro-optical manufacturing
• Experience with micron-scale assembly, optical alignment, or chip-level packaging processes
• Experience standing up new production lines or expanding manufacturing operations within high-growth hardware companies
• Familiarity with robotic handling systems, machine vision, in-line metrology, and factory automation architectures
• Knowledge of statistical process control, process capability analysis, and reliability qualification methods
• Experience managing equipment vendors and integrators for custom or semi-custom tooling solutions
• Exposure to cleanroom or controlled-environment manufacturing operations

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to build and shape a factory from the ground up
• Direct impact on scaling breakthrough hardware technology
• High-ownership leadership role within a rapidly growing organization
• Exposure to cutting-edge precision manufacturing and automation systems
• Collaborative team of experienced engineers and operators
• Significant opportunity for professional growth as the company scales

Compensation Details

$175,000 - $200,000

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