About Us: We are at the forefront of revolutionizing footwear manufacturing through advanced 3D printing technology. Our vision is to establish an industry-leading production site capable of producing millions of pairs of high-performance, custom footwear annually. We are building our operations from the ground up, leveraging cutting-edge technology, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless pursuit of efficiency and innovation. If you are passionate about transforming an entire industry through scalable, automated, and intelligent manufacturing, we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity: We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Lead Manufacturing Systems Solutions Engineer to spearhead the development of our end-to-end hardware and systems solution for our 3D printing footwear production site. This is a truly unique opportunity to define, design, and implement the foundational manufacturing systems that will enable us to scale from pilot to millions of pairs, setting new benchmarks for speed, quality, and customization in the footwear industry.

You will be a critical leader in our engineering team, responsible for bridging the gap between product design, materials science, and high-volume manufacturing. Your work will directly impact our ability to deliver on our ambitious production targets and solidify our position as the market leader.

What You'll Do:

• Lead System Architecture & Design: Define and architect the holistic manufacturing system for 3D printed footwear production, encompassing hardware (3D printers, post-processing equipment, automation, robotics), software (MES, SCADA, data analytics platforms), and operational workflows.
• First-Principles Problem Solving: Apply a first-principles approach to identify and solve complex manufacturing challenges, optimizing for throughput, yield, cost, and quality.
• Data-Driven Optimization: Establish and champion a data-centric approach to manufacturing. Design and implement systems for real-time data collection, analysis, and visualization to drive continuous improvement, predictive maintenance, and process control.
• Automation & Robotics Integration: Identify, evaluate, and integrate advanced automation and robotic solutions to streamline material handling, pre-processing, post-processing, quality control, and packaging operations.
• Scalability & Modularity: Design systems with inherent scalability and modularity to support rapid expansion and flexible production of diverse footwear products.
• Vendor & Technology Evaluation: Research, evaluate, and select best-in-class manufacturing technologies, equipment, and software vendors. Manage key vendor relationships and partnerships.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with R&D, product design, materials science, software engineering, and operations teams to ensure seamless integration of new technologies and processes into the production environment.
• Process Development & Validation: Develop, document, and validate manufacturing processes, including standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality control measures.
• Team Building (Future): As we grow, contribute to building and mentoring a team of manufacturing engineers and specialists.

What You'll Bring:

• 5+ years of experience in a lead manufacturing engineering or systems engineering role within an industry-leading, high-volume production environment known for its innovation, automation, and data-driven approach (e.g., Automotive Gigafactories, Advanced Electronics Manufacturing, Large-Scale Robotics & Automation). Experience at companies like Tesla, SpaceX, or similar "first-principles" driven organizations is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of designing, developing, and implementing complex manufacturing systems from the ground up, leading to significant improvements in efficiency, capacity, and quality.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing automation principles, robotics, material handling systems, and industrial controls.
• Strong expertise in data acquisition, manufacturing execution systems (MES), SCADA, and leveraging data analytics for process optimization and predictive insights.
• Experience with 3D printing technologies (additive manufacturing) is a significant plus, especially at scale. Familiarity with post-processing for 3D printed parts is also beneficial.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to apply first-principles thinking to complex, uncharted challenges.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Catia) and simulation tools.
• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills with the ability to influence and drive change across various teams.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical field.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience in the footwear, apparel, or consumer goods industry.
• Experience bringing new products from R&D to high-volume production.
• Proficiency in programming languages used in manufacturing automation (e.g., Python, C++, PLC programming).

Why Join Us?

• Be a foundational member of a rapidly growing company at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and consumer products.
• Work on truly innovative and impactful projects that will redefine an entire industry.
• Collaborate with a passionate team of engineers, designers, and innovators.
• Opportunity to build and scale a manufacturing operation from its nascent stages to millions of units.
• Competitive salary, equity, and benefits package