Director Manufacturing Engineering

Robotics Manufacturer

Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex (On-Site)

Airbotics Talent are exclusively partnered with a rapidly scaling robotics company developing advanced autonomous systems for defence and industrial markets. As part of a major expansion programme, the organisation is establishing a new advanced manufacturing facility in Texas to support high-rate production across multiple product lines. To support this build phase, they are appointing a Director Manufacturing Engineering to lead and scale the production engineering capability from day one.

This is a full-time, on-site role based in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Relocation from other US regions is supported.

The Role

This is a senior leadership appointment responsible for building and owning the manufacturing engineering function within a greenfield robotics production environment.

You will convert complex hardware designs into robust, repeatable assembly operations optimised for quality, throughput and cost efficiency. The remit spans industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering and design-to-production integration across a high-mix hardware portfolio.

This is not a steady-state plant leadership position. You will establish the systems, standards and team structure that define how the organisation scales manufacturing capability long term.

Key Responsibilities

Lead manufacturing engineering from facility launch through full production readiness
Design assembly layouts, line balance strategies, tooling concepts and production workflows
Develop capacity plans, takt models and rate ramp projections aligned to demand forecasts
Drive structured DFM and DFA engagement with product engineering teams
Own manufacturing process documentation including digital work instructions and production BOM governance
Implement disciplined change control between engineering baselines and production execution
Introduce lean methodologies to improve yield, efficiency and cost performance
Partner closely with operations, quality and supply chain leadership to ensure stable output
Define scalable manufacturing engineering standards transferable to future sites
Recruit, mentor and grow a high calibre manufacturing engineering team

The Person

This role requires significant experience within complex hardware manufacturing environments such as aerospace, defence, automotive, robotics or advanced electromechanical systems.

Applicants must bring direct exposure to live production environments rather than purely product design experience.

The ideal candidate will bring:

10+ years within manufacturing or production engineering
Proven involvement in launching or materially scaling a manufacturing line or facility
Strong industrial engineering fundamentals including time study, line balancing and throughput optimisation
Experience developing assembly processes, fixtures and tooling strategies
Familiarity operating within structured PLM and ERP systems
A track record of improving first-pass yield, operational efficiency and cost performance
Leadership capability with a player-coach mindset
Eligibility to obtain US security clearance

This appointment offers the opportunity to shape the manufacturing engineering foundation of a high growth robotics platform at an early and influential stage of expansion.

Our client is progressing this hire with urgency. Interested candidates should submit an updated resume for confidential consideration.

Due to confidentiality and to protect our client relationships, many of our assignments are not advertised publicly. If this role is not quite right, please visit our vacancies page for other opportunities.

www.airboticstalent.com/jobs

Airbotics Talent are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities. All candidates are assessed solely on suitability for our clients’ requirements without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history or marital status.

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Director of Manufacturing Engineering

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