Prototype Engineering Lead

Job Summary

We are standing up an in-house prototyping division at our 80,000 square foot Milpitas facility: a quick-turn machine shop and sheet metal cell, a system assembly and integration area, and a prototype SMT line. The outcome you are hired to deliver is simple to state and hard to do: any Etched engineer can get a prototype part made with same-day or next-day turnaround. You own the entire outcome required to make that true — hiring, shop setup, process, and execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end stand-up of the prototyping division: space planning, equipment selection and procurement, facility improvements, permits, and commissioning of the machine shop, sheet metal cell, assembly area, and prototype SMT line

• Hire, lead, and develop a team of machinists, fabricators, and assembly technicians.

• Run day-to-day operations against the division's core metric: same-day or next-day turnaround on prototype parts for engineering

• Build the systems that make a shop run: work intake and prioritization, quoting, scheduling, traceability, inventory and vendor-managed consumables, and preventive maintenance

• Own the division budget (capex and opex), make build-vs-buy calls, and manage relationships with machine dealers, riggers, and overflow vendors

• Stand up quality infrastructure: first-article inspection, calibration program, cross-section/failure-analysis lab, and inspection criteria for incoming and in-process work

• Partner daily with mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering teams to close design-for-manufacturability feedback loops and pull schedules in.

You may be a good fit if you have

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or other engineering discipline; OR 4+ years of professional experience in manufacturing or prototype operations in lieu of a degree

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing, machine shop, or hardware prototyping operations

• 2+ years of experience directly leading technicians, machinists, or manufacturing teams

• Hands-on experience with CNC machining and/or sheet metal fabrication processes

Strong candidates may also have experience with

• Experience standing up a machine shop, prototype lab, or manufacturing line from an empty floor: equipment selection, rigging, utilities, and permits

• Working knowledge across the processes we run: 3-axis CNC milling, manual machining, waterjet cutting, CNC press brake forming, welding, and hardware insertion

• Experience with PCBA/SMT NPI processes (stencil printing, pick and place, reflow, AOI, X-ray, rework) or willingness to build that capability with a strong process engineer

• Experience with liquid-cooled systems, server/rack-scale hardware, or data center equipment assembly and test

• Familiarity with California manufacturing compliance: Cal/OSHA, CUPA/HMBP hazmat programs, BAAQMD air permits, wastewater discharge

• Experience implementing ERP/MES or lightweight traceability systems in a job-shop or NPI environment

• Ability to personally run a mill, brake, or lathe when the queue demands it

• Experience in a high-growth startup or program-driven environment (aerospace, automotive, consumer hardware NPI)

• Track record of hiring and retaining skilled trades talent in a competitive market

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage

  • $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits

• Housing subsidy of $2,500 per month for those living within walking distance of the office

• Daily lunch and dinner in our office

• Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification