Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

The Manager, Manufacturing Engineering will play a key leadership role in scaling complex hardware from early engineering builds into repeatable production. You will build and lead the Manufacturing Engineering team, shape how products are industrialized, and partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to turn ambitious designs into robust manufacturing systems.

This role owns the technical foundation of production—including process development, tooling, manufacturing definition, production readiness, and yield improvement. You will have the opportunity to influence product design early, establish the manufacturing standards and systems required for scale, and directly impact quality, cost, throughput, and the company’s ability to ramp new products successfully.

Key Accountabilities

• Team Leadership: Build and develop the Manufacturing Engineering team, establish priorities and ownership, and ensure effective technical support from prototype through production.
• Industrialization & NPI: Lead Manufacturing Engineering engagement during early builds, translating design and build learnings into scalable processes, tooling, documentation, and production readiness.
• Manufacturing Definition & Systems: Own MBOMs, Bills of Process, operation sequencing, and Work Instruction standards. Ensure EBOM-to-MBOM alignment and successful integration with PLM, ERP, and MES systems.
• Process, Tooling & DFM: Own manufacturing process development, tooling and fixture strategy, DFM/DFA, PFMEA, and process validation to ensure products are ready for repeatable production.
• Yield & Manufacturing Performance: Own improvement of first-pass yield, defects, rework, cycle time, and process capability. Drive cross-functional root-cause investigations and corrective actions for systemic manufacturing issues.
• Production Readiness & Scale: Own Manufacturing Engineering readiness for pilot builds, production ramp, change implementation, and Contract Manufacturer technical transfer. Escalate risks that threaten quality, schedule, or production readiness.

Skills & Requirements

• Strong background in complex hardware manufacturing, NPI, process development, tooling, and production industrialization.
• Experience with MBOMs, BOPs, PLM, ERP, MES, and engineering change management.
• Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA, PFMEA, SPC, DOE, process validation, and root-cause analysis.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and drive cross-functional accountability.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to navigate conflict, deliver difficult feedback, and build trust across teams.
• Experience prioritizing work, delegating effectively, and balancing team capacity with business needs
• Experience with high degree-of-freedom electromechanical assemblies, robotics, precision mechanisms, or actuation systems is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience, including 2+ years of technical or people leadership.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Periods of sitting at a workstation and working on a computer
• Ability to safely lift and/or move approximately 15 pounds at times.
• Ability to move throughout operational areas and maintain awareness of surrounding people, equipment, and robotic systems.
• Visual ability necessary to operate equipment, monitor robotic systems, and read printed and digital material
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members during normal operations and when responding to safety or operational concern
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, averaging 15% per year

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.