Associate Director, Manufacturing

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of the manufacturing strategy from demonstration readiness through ongoing production (~30,000 units)
• Own structured handoff from Rapid Prototyping into Manufacturing, including transfer of process intent, key learnings, tooling concepts, and known technical risks.
• Drive the transition of Electra product designs from development into manufacturable, scalable, and cost-effective production solutions
• Own ongoing production and availability of product and spares in support of Demonstration Plant operations, ensuring reliable execution while Rapid Prototyping focuses on next-generation development.
• Execute make/buy decisions, capacity plans, and manufacturing roadmaps in alignment with VP-level direction
• Ensure manufacturing execution meets performance, quality, safety, cost, and schedule objectives for Electra’s operating plants
• Serve as the technical authority for outsourced manufacturing of subcomponents.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend qualified and capable contract manufacturers based on technical capability, process maturity, quality systems, and scalability
• Lead supplier technical assessments, manufacturing readiness reviews, and process capability evaluations
• Define manufacturing requirements, process controls, inspection strategies, and acceptance criteria for external suppliers based on industrialization and demonstration-scale learnings
• Partner with Supply Chain to support supplier selection and onboarding, with Supply Chain owning commercial negotiations, financial terms, and legal contracts
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality Engineering to ensure supplier processes, controls, and corrective actions align with Electra’s technical and quality requirements
• Provide technical risk assessments and escalation for supplier-related manufacturing issues

Quality, metrology & inspection ownership

• Serve as the Manufacturing functional owner for metrology and inspection capabilities supporting demonstration and production manufacturing
• Define manufacturing inspection requirements, measurement system needs, and validation expectations aligned with product, supplier, and manufacturing execution requirements
• Partner with Rapid Prototyping, Cell Design, Engineering, and Quality to define acceptance criteria, control plans, inspection strategies, and handoff requirements as products transition into Manufacturing ownership
• Ensure inspection methods, measurement systems, and test protocols supporting Manufacturing are capable, validated, and fit for purpose
• Leverage inspection and metrology data to support supplier qualification, demonstration readiness, ongoing performance evaluation, and corrective action efforts
• Ensure traceability, documentation, and data integrity for manufacturing and quality records required to support demonstration and production operations

Team leadership & development

• Build, lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of manufacturing engineers
• Set execution priorities, technical direction, and performance expectations aligned with departmental objectives
• Coach and mentor team members to enable independent ownership of complex manufacturing and process development efforts
• Foster a safety-first culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and execution excellence

Operational excellence & problem solving

• Lead resolution of complex manufacturing, quality, yield, and supplier issues across internal and external production environments
• Apply structured problem-solving and root cause analysis methods for high-impact issues
• Establish and track manufacturing KPIs and performance metrics across internal operations and external suppliers
• Ensure all manufacturing activities comply with safety, environmental, and company policies

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience considered
• 12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing engineering, with 4 to 8 years in an industrial production operations setting
• Demonstrated success scaling products beyond prototype or pilot stages into outsourced or hybrid-volume manufacturing
• Strong experience qualifying and managing contract manufacturers for precision plastic and metal components and assemblies
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing technical teams
• Deep understanding of DFM, DFA, and design-for-scalability principles
• Experience defining manufacturing requirements, acceptance criteria, and inspection strategies
• Familiarity with metrology systems, measurement system analysis (MSA), and validation of inspection methods
• Track record of solving complex, cross-functional manufacturing and supply chain challenges
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Highly organized, decisive, and effective in a fast-paced startup environment
• Experience owning manufacturing execution

Skills

• Hands-on experience with fabrication processes such as machining, welding, forming, or complex assemblies
• Passion for building scalable hardware systems that enable meaningful sustainability impact

Pay

The anticipated starting pay range for this position is $140,000-$175,000/year and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education.

Benefits

• 100% paid premiums across all medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance plans
• $1,800 in annual employer HSA contributions (health savings account)
• 100% paid premiums across all medical, dental, vision, and telemedicine plans
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• 401k with up to 5% matching contributions which vest 100% on day one
• Eligibility for incentive stock options