Prototype & Production Lab Manager (Navy Systems)

Location: Middletown, Rhode Island, United States. Onsite position; no remote or telework allowed.

Salary: $101,651.11–$176,751.55 per year. The posting also lists $1,000 in the header.

Company

hirify.global is a federal government contractor supporting a U.S. Navy Engineering Service Contract.

What you will do

• Manage incoming work requests, lab workflow, priorities, equipment, tools, inventory, and safe daily operations.
• Manage Bills of Materials and coordinate sourcing of components, hardware, and materials for prototype and production builds.
• Review engineering drawings, schematics, and Technical Data Packages to identify design weaknesses, missing information, manufacturing hurdles, tolerance issues, and assembly constraints.
• Recommend material substitutions, structural enhancements, and design adjustments for ruggedized naval applications, and provide feedback to engineering teams on manufacturability.
• Perform mechanical assembly, prototype fabrication, custom cable and wire-harness routing and termination, and precision soldering.
• Test, troubleshoot, integrate, and validate RF components and systems using Keysight FieldFox and similar equipment, including impedance matching, insertion loss, VSWR, and overall RF system integrity.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in prototyping, manufacturing engineering, or highly technical lab management, preferably in defense or aerospace.
• Extensive knowledge of mechanical assembly, fabrication processes, and material sciences for ruggedized applications involving metals, plastics, or composites.
• Ability to read, interpret, and critique complex engineering drawings, schematics, and Technical Data Packages, including BOM-related information.
• Demonstrated expertise in custom cable and wire-harness building, routing, and precision soldering.
• Strong knowledge of RF principles and practical experience testing RF systems.
• Hands-on proficiency with a FieldFox Network/Spectrum Analyzer for RF measurements.
• Understanding of RF system deployment and use within U.S. Navy platforms and environments.
• Exceptional critical-thinking skills for translating engineering designs into manufacturable builds.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Education and experience guideline: BS with 10–12 years, MS with 8–10 years, or PhD with 5–7 years.

Nice to have

• Active DoD security clearance at Secret level or higher.
• Prior technical or RF/electronics military service, such as Navy ET, FC, CTT, or AT, or extensive defense-contractor experience.
• Certifications in soldering and cable assembly, such as IPC J-STD-001 or IPC/WHMA-A-620.
• Experience with CAD software, including SolidWorks or AutoCAD, for viewing and manipulating models.

Culture & Benefits

• Health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, holiday pay, short- and long-term disability, and retirement and savings programs may be available depending on the position.
• Learning and development opportunities and wellness programs are offered.
• Additional optional benefit elections may be available.
• Equal opportunity employment is provided in accordance with applicable law.