Director, Manufacturing & Quality Operations

About the role

Collaborative Robotics is looking for a manufacturing leader to build and scale the in‑house production system for its robots. You will take ownership of manufacturing from the production floor up – establishing build processes, designing quality and performance measurement systems, and scaling production. This role creates the processes, tools, operating rhythms, and technical foundation that will shape how products are built for years to come.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the day‑to‑day manufacturing function as we build and scale our own in‑house production line.
• Own the end‑to‑end build process, including process implementation, work instructions, fixtures/tooling, and line performance (cycle time, yield, throughput).
• Conduct DFM/A reviews with engineering to ensure designs are manufacturable and cost‑effective for in‑house production.
• Run pilot builds and early production runs, driving process validation and readiness for volume ramp.
• Implement and improve core manufacturing processes, quality systems (inspection, defect tracking, root‑cause/CAPA), and reporting tools from the ground up.
• Build and manage a growing manufacturing engineering and quality team, scaling as volume and product maturity increase.
• Determine internal build versus buy trade‑offs over time, backed by production data.
• Travel occasionally to vendor and supplier facilities to support material quality, sourcing decisions, and supply‑chain issues.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or operations, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Hands‑on experience standing up or scaling an in‑house production line for low‑to‑mid volume electromechanical or robotics products.
• Strong technical foundation in manufacturing process development, DFM/A, and quality systems.
• Proven ability to manage builds, resolve production issues, and lead cross‑functional collaboration with design, test, and supply chain.
• Demonstrated success building and mentoring technical teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and willingness to work in a fast‑paced start‑up environment.
• US work authorization and willingness to travel occasionally.
• Preferred: experience with MES, SPC, robotics, complex electromechanical hardware, and familiarity with CE, UL, ISO9001, ISO13485 certifications.