Manufacturing Engineering Manager San Francisco Bay Area

Planet Green Search•San Francisco, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a rare chance to build a manufacturing engineering function from scratch inside a fast-scaling advanced manufacturing company that’s already lighting up over 35 million square feet of mission-critical space across the U.S. You won’t be maintaining someone else’s processes — you’ll architect them. You’ll stand up SOPs, commission robotic assembly cells, design the tooling and work cells, and create the repeatable systems that turn innovative product designs into high-quality, high-volume production. As the company ramps robotic automation, this role owns the technical bridge between Product Engineering and the factory floor. If you’re a hands-on leader who thrives on ownership, enjoys getting on the floor, and wants to shape how a growing operation manufactures for years to come, this seat is open.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent hands-on manufacturing engineering experience.
5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in electromechanical, electronics, or light industrial assembly environments.
Proven track record developing and owning manufacturing SOPs, work instructions, and standard work.
Hands-on experience with automated/robotic assembly systems (programming, commissioning, troubleshooting, or integration).
Strong DFM and NPI experience — you know how to push designs for real-world manufacturability.
Comfortable working in ERP systems for routing and work order structure (Odoo experience is a plus).
You operate independently in greenfield or scale-up environments, make decisions, and build the playbook as you go.
You’re genuinely hands-on — this role lives on the floor, not behind a desk.

Nice To Haves

Experience in commercial lighting/LED electronics, collaborative or industrial robots (FANUC, KUKA, UR, etc.), SMT/PCB/wire harness processes, lean manufacturing tools, team leadership, or CAD (SolidWorks/AutoCAD) for fixture design.

Responsibilities

Provide early DFM input so products launch clean, own the full NPI process (first builds, SOP creation, cycle time validation, and production readiness sign-off), and drive ECOs through manufacturing with zero disruption.
Own Work Order structure and routing in the ERP system so every job has clear, accurate sequences and standards. Monitor live production, remove bottlenecks in real time, and serve as the go-to technical resource for the floor. You’ll turn data into targeted improvements that drive attainment, yield, and speed.
Lead the programming, commissioning, and optimization of robotic assembly cells as the factory scales automation. Own changeovers, recipes, preventive maintenance, and root-cause troubleshooting. Partner with equipment suppliers on integration and build the roadmap for future automation expansion. You’ll literally be shaping the factory’s automated future.
Design or specify every fixture, jig, and workstation needed for efficient, high-quality builds. Influence factory layout for flow, ergonomics, and safety. Continuously hunt for better tools and methods that improve quality and throughput.
Build and develop the manufacturing engineering support team as headcount grows. Set the standard for documentation, repeatability, and continuous improvement. Make sure operators are trained and certified before they run independently. You’ll create the culture and capability the factory runs on.