Prototype Shop Manager
About The Position
As the Prototype Shop Manager for Neros, you will own the day-to-day operation and long-term development of our prototype fabrication capabilities. You will work closely with engineers to deliver high-quality prototype parts on aggressive timelines, with a strong emphasis on CNC machining, 3D printing, and precision prototype assembly/finish. This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced environment: you will run the queue, build parts, keep the shop safe and organized, and expand capability over time through smart tooling/equipment decisions and expanding your team as demand grows.
Requirements
- 8+ years in a prototype, R&D, or high-mix fabrication environment (aerospace, robotics, motorsports, consumer hardware, job shop, etc.)
- Strong hands-on capability in manual and CNC machining (setup, workholding, tool selection, feeds/speeds) and comfort machining both metals and composite materials
- CAM experience (Mastercam, NX CAM, CATIA CAM, SolidCAM, etc.) and fixture/workholding design experience
- Experience running or owning a shop queue: prioritization, estimating, and communicating timelines/tradeoffs with engineering teams
- Practical metrology experience (calipers/mics/indicators, datum thinking, basic inspection planning)
- Experience with procurement, vendor management, and make-vs-buy decisions
- Strong safety discipline (including composite dust control and shop best practices)
Nice To Haves
- Experience with CNC routers for composites, dust collection systems, and composite-specific tooling/workflows
- Additive manufacturing depth (SLA/FDM tuning, material selection, consistent post-processing)
- Metal fabrication experience including weldments and sheet metal work
- Advanced metrology, deeper GD&T, or functional gage design
- Experience commissioning equipment (layout, utilities, acceptance testing, training plans)
- Experience scaling a shop: hiring, training programs, inventory systems, or light ERP/MES tools
Responsibilities
- Own daily shop execution: job intake, prioritization, scheduling, and delivery of prototype parts for engineering
- Machine and fabricate prototype parts; CNC (metals & composite materials) and 3D printing, including post-processing and basic assembly/finish
- Partner with engineers on DFM: optimize designs for manufacturability, lead time, cost, and repeatability
- Build and enforce a safety-first shop culture (PPE, dust/fume control for composite machining, machine guarding, training)
- Own shop readiness: tooling and consumables, calibration, and preventative maintenance scheduling
- Develop the equipment/tooling roadmap: select, justify, commission, and maintain machines, work holding, cutters, and inspection equipment
- Hire, train, and mentor technicians as the shop grows; define roles, training plans, and performance expectations
Benefits
- Highly competitive equity grants
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
