Prototype Shop Manager

Responsibilities

• Own daily shop execution: job intake, prioritization, scheduling, and delivery of prototype parts for engineering
• Machine and fabricate prototype parts; CNC (metals & composite materials) and 3D printing, including post-processing and basic assembly/finish
• Partner with engineers on DFM: optimize designs for manufacturability, lead time, cost, and repeatability
• Build and enforce a safety-first shop culture (PPE, dust/fume control for composite machining, machine guarding, training)
• Own shop readiness: tooling and consumables, calibration, and preventative maintenance scheduling
• Develop the equipment/tooling roadmap: select, justify, commission, and maintain machines, work holding, cutters, and inspection equipment
• Hire, train, and mentor technicians as the shop grows; define roles, training plans, and performance expectations

Requirements

• 8+ years in a prototype, R&D, or high-mix fabrication environment (aerospace, robotics, motorsports, consumer hardware, job shop, etc.)
• Strong hands-on capability in manual and CNC machining (setup, workholding, tool selection, feeds/speeds) and comfort machining both metals and composite materials
• CAM experience (Mastercam, NX CAM, CATIA CAM, SolidCAM, etc.) and fixture/workholding design experience
• Experience running or owning a shop queue: prioritization, estimating, and communicating timelines/tradeoffs with engineering teams
• Practical metrology experience (calipers/mics/indicators, datum thinking, basic inspection planning)
• Experience with procurement, vendor management, and make-vs-buy decisions
• Strong safety discipline (including composite dust control and shop best practices)

Qualifications

• Nice to have: Experience with CNC routers for composites, dust collection systems, and composite-specific tooling/workflows
• Additive manufacturing depth (SLA/FDM tuning, material selection, consistent post-processing)
• Metal fabrication experience including weldments and sheet metal work
• Advanced metrology, deeper GD&T, or functional gage design
• Experience commissioning equipment (layout, utilities, acceptance testing, training plans)
• Experience scaling a shop: hiring, training programs, inventory systems, or light ERP/MES tools

Skills

• Hands-on machining skills
• Design for manufacturing (DFM) expertise
• Safety protocols and practices
• Team management and mentoring
• Procurement and vendor management
• Equipment selection and maintenance
• Quality control and inspection
• Project management and scheduling
• Composites and additive manufacturing knowledge
• Advanced metrology and GD&T

Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $140,000 - $200,000 USD
• Equity grants as part of total compensation package
• Equal opportunity employer

Pay

• Salary range based on experience, education, and business considerations

Schedule

• Full-time position