Director, NPI Operations Engineering (Robotics)

Location: Remote within the United States; San Mateo or Hayward, California for the associated role locations.

Annual base salary: $229,500–$302,500.

Company

hirify.global develops autonomous drones, docks, accessories, and aerial robotics using artificial intelligence, hardware, and software engineering.

What you will do

• Lead NPI Operations Engineering for autonomous drones, docks, accessories, and other complex electromechanical products.
• Own manufacturability, design-for-manufacturing and assembly, assembly-time and yield targets, manufacturing plans, and production-readiness gates from early architecture through PVT.
• Develop and validate assembly processes, fixtures, error-proofing, equipment, process specifications, control plans, inspections, tests, work instructions, and manufacturing BOMs.
• Build roadmaps for waterproofing, ingress protection, conformal coating, sealing, bonding, and other core manufacturing technologies.
• Lead supplier selection, part qualification, supplier readiness, process-level NPI automation, and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Set the strategy, hire and develop the MDE and SBE team, manage priorities across concurrent programs, and communicate risks and trade-offs to executive leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of hands-on manufacturing engineering, NPI, or production engineering experience with complex electromechanical products, ideally including high-volume production.
• 4+ years leading engineering teams, including hiring and developing engineers and managers.
• Experience taking multiple complex hardware products from early development into high-quality production.
• Deep DFM/DFA expertise and experience influencing product design early in development.
• Hands-on fixture design experience and strong knowledge of factory lines, assembly flow, SPC, Lean, and Six Sigma.
• Experience working with suppliers on part qualification, process capability, and production readiness.
• Strong data, project management, analytical, communication, and independent judgment skills, including setting and using yield, cycle-time, and cost targets.
• Willingness to work on the manufacturing floor during critical builds and in a fast-paced environment with evolving products.
• FAA Part 107 certification is strongly encouraged within the first 60 days and required for certain positions.

Nice to have

• Experience with drones, aerospace, robotics, autonomous systems, or consumer electronics.
• Experience with waterproofing, ingress protection, conformal coating, sealing, or adhesive processes.
• Experience with PCBAs, cameras and optics, gimbals, inertial sensors, motors, batteries, or composite structures.
• Experience with contract manufacturers or NPI across in-house and outsourced production.

Culture & Benefits

• Regular full-time employment includes equity through stock options and comprehensive benefits.
• Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, and a 401(k) savings plan.
• Relocation assistance may be available for eligible roles.
• hirify.global promotes an inclusive, diverse, technically rigorous, and collaborative working environment.
• Employment and benefits are subject to applicable laws, company policies, and eligibility criteria.

Hiring process

• Qualified applicants in the United States are subject to employment eligibility verification through E-Verify.