Head of Manufacturing

Charge Robotics

• $150K — $180K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of professional experience, including 3+ years in manufacturing leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated experience in establishing and operationalizing production facilities.
  • Proficient in transforming complex electromechanical systems from prototype to production.
  • Knowledgeable in DFM, DFA, and GD&T principles and supplier qualification processes.
  • Strong communication skills for collaboration across diverse teams.
  • Willingness to work 4-5 days a week in the SF Bay Area and travel ~20% for field deployments.

Responsibilities

  • Build and lead a high-performing manufacturing team aligned with company goals.
  • Oversee the complete setup and operation of the new production facility.
  • Ensure design engineering and manufacturing functions work together for operational efficiency.
  • Drive cost reductions through improvements in design and manufacturing processes.
  • Create and implement rigorous manufacturing processes and documentation standards.
  • Act as a representative for the manufacturing function to various stakeholders.
  • Manage environmental health and safety compliance and foster a safety culture.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead a foundational manufacturing role in an innovative startup.
  • Engagement in high-impact environmental initiatives.
  • Collaborative work environment with close partnerships across teams.
  • Potential for career growth in a rapidly scaling company.
  • Commitment to high-quality production that improves over time.
Full Job Description
About the role

Charge Robotics is hiring a Head of Manufacturing to own the full arc of how our products get built, from standing up and operationalizing our first production facility to building the manufacturing function supporting our field deployments. This is a foundational leadership role: you'll establish the processes, org, and physical infrastructure that take us from early commercial builds to repeatable, high-quality production at scale. You'll work in close partnership with engineering, supply chain, and field teams to ensure everything we ship (at HQ, at the production facility, and at our field deployment sites) is built right, built efficiently, and built to last and improve with time.

What you will do
  • Build, lead, and grow a world-class manufacturing team, and collaborate with company leadership to align manufacturing strategy with company goals and roadmap
  • Own the operationalization of our production facility end-to-end (site readiness, equipment, workflows, safety, and staffing) drawing on prior experience doing this before
  • Build and maintain a manufacturing engineering org in close lockstep with design engineering to ensure HQ builds, facility production, and field deployments are efficient and continuously optimized for manufacturability. Own the NPI process to ensure smooth handoffs from development into production
  • Collaborate with supply chain to drive COGS reduction over time through DFM feedback, process optimization, and yield improvement
  • Establish manufacturing processes, documentation, and organizational design (including BOMs, drawings, part qualification, and supplier quality) and set the bar for excellence across all manufacturing activity
  • Internally and externally represent the manufacturing function to key stakeholders including employees, customers, executives, and investors, and own EHS compliance and safety culture at the production facility


You
  • Have excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate clearly across engineers, suppliers, technicians, and leadership
  • Have 10+ years of professional experience, including 3+ years in a manufacturing leadership role, including standing up and operationalizing a production facility
  • Have brought complex electromechanical systems, especially those involving metal fabrication, rigging, or heavy machinery, from prototype to production
  • Are familiar with DFM, DFA, and/or GD&T principles, and have experience sourcing and qualifying suppliers and contract manufacturers
  • Operate effectively in a fast-paced, in-person startup environment; can roll up your sleeves when needed while maintaining context of broader organizational goals
  • Are based in or can relocate to the SF Bay Area, and able to work 4-5 days/week from our San Leandro HQ
  • Are open to ~20% travel (including field deployments and production facility)
  • Are excited to personally play a part in mitigating climate change
It'd also be nice if you
  • Have a Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
  • Have experience in automation, robotics, or capital equipment manufacturing
  • Have experience working with solar or construction industry technologies
  • Are familiar with high-complexity, low-volume production environments
  • Have used ION manufacturing software

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