Manufacturing and Industrialization Lead

Range Energy • Detroit, MI

6d

About The Position

Range Energy builds powered trailers that help electrify heavy-duty trucking without requiring fleets to replace their tractors. We solve real-world problems with real hardware. We move fast, take ownership, and hold a high bar for execution. We value people who are low ego and team-first, calm under pressure, direct and respectful communicators, willing to roll up their sleeves, and focused on solutions, not drama. We operate with high integrity . We do what we say we’ll do, we’re transparent about risks and tradeoffs, and we build trust through consistent follow-through. The work is hands-on. Sometimes messy. Often fast. Always meaningful. Founded in 2021, Range is led by experienced EV operators from Tesla, Zoox, Honda, and other leading OEMs. We are backed by strong investors and focused on building hardware that fleets will actually use. If you like building real things, solving hard problems, and working with low drama, high output teammates, you will fit here Role Summary As the Manufacturing and Industrialization Lead you will own the transition from prototype to production for our electric trailer systems. Based in Detroit, Michigan — the heart of American manufacturing — you will play a critical role in building and scaling our manufacturing operations as we move toward commercial deployment. This is a hands-on, senior-level role that requires someone who can bridge engineering and production, cultivate supplier relationships, and establish the processes that will define Range’s manufacturing future. You will be deeply embedded in every stage of the industrialization process, working cross-functionally with product engineering, quality, operations, and leadership to bring our powered trailer to market at scale.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, industrialization, or related roles, with at least 3 years in a leadership or program ownership capacity
• Proven track record of taking complex electromechanical or automotive systems from prototype through production launch
• Deep familiarity with automotive, commercial vehicle, or heavy equipment manufacturing processes and supply chains
• Hands-on experience with DFM/DFA, FMEA, PFMEA and structured quality and manufacturing methodologies
• Strong supplier development and contract manufacturer management experience
• Experience with tooling, fixturing, and assembly line design and optimization
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to drive multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-moving environment
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and a startup mindset — you’re as comfortable on the shop floor as you are in a design review
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree a plus
• Experience in electric vehicles, electromechanical systems, or adjacent industries strongly preferred
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time

Nice To Haves

• Experience in electric vehicles, electromechanical systems, or adjacent industries
• Experience managing offshore or international contract manufacturers
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end industrialization of Range's electric trailer systems, from prototype through pilot production and into high-volume manufacturing
• Develop and own manufacturing process documentation including DFM/DFA analyses, process FMEAs, control plans, and work instructions
• Collaborate closely with product engineering to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, quality, and cost targets
• Establish production tooling, fixtures, and assembly line design to support scaling operations
• Lead manufacturing readiness reviews (MRR) and production readiness reviews (PRR) for new programs
• Identify, qualify, and manage strategic manufacturing partners, contract manufacturers, and suppliers across the supply chain
• Serve as the primary on-site liaison at contract manufacturers—managing day-to-day operations including IQC support, material clearance for builds, work instruction verification, and escalation of progress updates and bottlenecks to HQ
• Travel regularly (up to 50%) to supplier sites, contract manufacturers, and partner facilities across North America and internationally
• Maintain and verify MES data accuracy against design requirements; ensure process parameters, routing, and BOM structures are correctly reflected in the manufacturing execution system
• Manage all MES-relevant attributes and ensure process compliance to design requirements
• Partner closely with Supplier Industrialization Engineering (SIE) and broader quality functions to ensure alignment on supplier quality standards, process validation, and production readiness
• Partner with quality engineering to establish incoming inspection, in-process quality controls, and final acceptance criteria
• Initiate and drive corrective action requests (CARs) for design or process nonconformances; ensure root cause analysis and effective containment through to closure
• Oversee deviation requests and engineering change implementation across manufacturing sites; ensure changes are validated, documented, and incorporated into production without disruption
• Define and track key manufacturing KPIs including yield, cycle time, throughput, and cost metrics
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other manufacturing best practices
• Build and mentor a manufacturing engineering team as Range scales its operations

Benefits

• Range Energy’s compensation package includes a competitive salary, equity for all full-time roles, and a generous benefits package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees