Director of Manufacturing

Copper•Berkeley, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a Director of Manufacturing to build and scale the production engine that takes Copper from early manufacturing runs to reliable, multi-site, global production. You’ll own end-to-end manufacturing execution, from NPI through mass production, and build the systems, teams, and supplier ecosystem that enable Copper to ship high-volume, high-reliability hardware at scale. This is a hands-on, builder role in a critical moment of company growth. You’ll partner closely with Hardware Engineering, Reliability, Product, Supply Chain, Finance, and Customer Operations, and externally with domestic and overseas contract manufacturers, suppliers, test labs, and certification organizations. You’ll help shape Copper’s manufacturing architecture, improve quality and yield, reduce cost, and ensure we can meet the needs of a rapidly expanding customer and OEM pipeline. This role reports to the COO. We value diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We’re especially focused on fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can contribute to our shared mission. This is a full-time position expected to be in-office 4 days per week with 1 day flexible for in-office or remote work, with domestic and international travel as needed. Our office is located in Berkeley, CA.

Requirements

Proven Scale-Builder for Complex Electromechanical Products
Experience taking a hardware product from early runs into high-volume production.
Demonstrated ownership of NPI-to-MP transitions, DFM, vendor ramp, throughput and yield improvement, test engineering, and line design.
Comfort owning both strategy and hands-on execution during ramp.
Experience Managing Overseas & Multi-Site Production
Direct experience with Asia-based or international contract manufacturers and multi-site production environments.
Strong supplier management skills: negotiation, cost optimization, escalation, relationship-building.
Ability to navigate cultural and operational differences with emotional intelligence and clarity.
Exceptional Operations Leader & People Manager
5+ years experience leading senior engineers and operations talent.
Ability to create clarity during periods of change, establish effective operating rhythms, and drive consistent execution.
Skill in coaching individuals and elevating team performance while maintaining trust.
Deep Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain Expertise
10+ years running manufacturing and supply chain departments
Fluency in electromechanical manufacturing (electronics, power systems, plastics, metalwork, thermal systems).
Expertise in test development, fixtures, process control, lean principles, failure analysis, and continuous improvement.
Understanding of supply chain planning, inventory management, S&OP, and VAVE.
Systems Thinker With Strong Operational Judgment
Ability to zoom out to architecture-level decisions while diving deep into specific bottlenecks.
Strong judgment under pressure; calm, grounded operator who surfaces risks early and drives toward solutions.
Builder’s mindset with a bias toward execution and comfort creating structure in ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

Scale Copper’s Manufacturing Engine
Own the transition from early production to high-volume, multi-site manufacturing across domestic and international partners.
Build repeatable, robust production processes, test systems, fixtures, and line operations that improve throughput, yield, and reliability.
Drive readiness for new manufacturing sites and support vendor onboarding, qualification, and ramp.
Lead manufacturing planning, capacity modeling, production forecasting, and alignment with Installation and Commercial.
Build a Reliable, Cost-Effective Global Supply Chain
Work with the Global Supply Chain Manager to develop sourcing strategies, implement cost-down and value-engineering initiatives, and establish long-term supplier relationships.
Co-own supplier performance, delivery, risk mitigation, and multi-year planning.
Ensure continuity of supply across geographies, including long-lead and critical components.
Own Quality, Safety, and Reliability Across All Products
Lead Copper’s quality management efforts across manufacturing and suppliers.
Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement loops with hardware, reliability, and factory teams.
Ensure Copper products meet all regulatory, reliability, and safety requirements.
Collaborate Cross-Functionally to Ensure Scalable Execution
Work closely with Hardware Engineering on DFM, build readiness, and design changes that improve manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
Partner with Product, Finance, and the COO on production planning, prioritization, and long-term operational strategy.
Provide clear, real-time visibility into capacity, risks, yields, and material availability.
Lead and Develop the Manufacturing & Supply Chain Organization
Hire and grow teams across Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain as the company scales.
Build the systems, operating cadence, and culture required for high accountability, strong execution, and cross-team alignment.
Model calm, steady leadership through inevitable manufacturing challenges and ambiguity.

Benefits

We are committed to equitable compensation, and offer a generous benefits package to make sure you have the support you need.
We cover 100% of the premiums for our employees and 50% of the premiums for their dependents on our base plans for medical, dental, and vision insurance.
We offer a 401(k) plan for employees to contribute to, in addition to many other benefits.
Every employee, regardless of gender identity or expression, is eligible for 16 weeks of paid parental leave after three months of employment (eight weeks through Copper and eight weeks CA Paid Family Leave).

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