Director of Manufacturing Engineering

Job Description

Job Description

Assembly is a fast-growing, venture-backed company with the ambition to transform the way we design and deliver imaginative, innovative urban architecture. We combine technology, design, architecture, and manufacturing to create mid/high-rise urban buildings that are greener and higher-quality, using a system that is faster and more efficient. As our pipeline grows and the system is refined, we unlock increasing cost efficiencies, ensuring long-term value for developers and the industry.

As the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, you will define and implement the playbook for fabricating and assembling Assembly modular units within both existing and new manufacturing facilities. You and your team will codify the entire manufacturing process, ensuring that third-party factories can efficiently and precisely build our high-rise modules. This includes developing repeatable, scalable work instructions, designing transportable and reusable tooling, integrating digital manufacturing technologies, and serving as sustaining engineers to drive continuous improvement. While the goal is to scale through external partners, you must also be prepared to establish and manage temporary in-house assembly operations when necessary, requiring adaptability and strategic problem-solving.

This role is essential to executing Assembly’s vision for distributed manufacturing, ensuring seamless integration between design, engineering, and production. You will be responsible for standardizing processes across third-party factories while also maintaining the technical and operational readiness to establish rapid-deployment assembly facilities when needed. Your leadership will ensure that every Assembly module is built with precision, efficiency, and consistency, regardless of location.

You Will:

Shape the future of industrialized construction by applying advanced manufacturing principles to an industry ripe for transformation.

Design a first-of-its-kind manufacturing system that scales modular high-rise construction across multiple factories, integrating automation and digital workflows.

Lead the convergence of aerospace- and automotive-grade manufacturing with building construction, developing processes that drive quality, efficiency, and scalability.

Develop and implement a scalable manufacturing system that enables partner factories to efficiently fabricate and assemble modular units while maintaining the capability to launch in-house assembly operations when needed.

Create a standardized manufacturing playbook, defining labor requirements, detailed work instructions, and quality control measures to ensure consistent production across multiple facilities

Leverage digital manufacturing technologies (MES, ERP, and factory automation tools) to optimize assembly processes, monitor production quality, and drive operational efficiency.

Lead process innovation and continuous improvement, acting as sustaining engineers to refine manufacturing workflows based on feedback from production partners.

Establish and oversee pilot programs and first-article builds to validate new processes, tooling, and quality standards at partner facilities.

Collaborate cross-functionally with supply chain, logistics, and design teams to seamlessly integrate manufacturability with design intent

Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure production efficiency, scalability, and quality performance.

Develop and lead a high-performing manufacturing engineering team, fostering a culture of trust, innovation, and professional growth.

Work closely with executive leadership to align manufacturing strategies with overall business objectives while maintaining cost-effectiveness through Capex and Opex forecasting.

Champion lean manufacturing principles in collaboration with partner factories, improving efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness at scale.

You Have:

Experience in high-precision, scalable manufacturing industries such as aerospace, automotive, or industrial equipment, with an interest in applying these skills to the built environment.

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

10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process development, or production engineering in industries such as aerospace, automotive, or industrial manufacturing.

The ability to think beyond traditional factory models and implement distributed, flexible manufacturing strategies that scale across multiple production sites.

A background in designing and optimizing manufacturing processes for complex, large-scale products, with a focus on modularization and efficiency.

Strong problem-solving skills with a systems engineering mindset—able to connect design, supply chain, production, and logistics into a seamless workflow.

Experience designing transportable and reusable tooling and fixtures to optimize manufacturing efficiency and scalability.

Proficiency with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), ERP systems, and digital factory tools, along with the ability to develop detailed work instructions and labor requirement documents for production teams.

The ability to work with cross-functional teams, external suppliers, and manufacturing partners to drive scalable production solutions.

You Are:

A strategic planner and a hands-on operator, comfortable working in both partner-driven and in-house assembly environments.

Capable of building and launching a rapid-deployment assembly facility.

A clear communicator who can translate complex manufacturing requirements into actionable plans for both internal teams and external partners.

Passionate about solving engineering challenges that blend digital and physical manufacturing, bringing industrialized processes to an industry in transformation.

A manager of complex challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset, ensuring agility and efficiency in a rapidly evolving industry.

A proven leader who leverages emotional intelligence and empathy to create an inclusive, high-trust work environment, enabling teams to perform at their best.

Compensation Range:

$170k- $250k / year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Our company does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

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