Bachelor's in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or equivalent)
2+ years as a project lead
Strong CAD experience (SolidWorks or similar)
Hands-on mindset for process design and operator collaboration
Strong problem-solving skills in ambiguous environments
Responsibilities
Design, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes for desalination systems
Lead DFM/DFA initiatives including tooling and automation programming
Collaborate cross-functionally to define equipment and quality metrics
Develop work instructions and validate manufacturing methods
Drive continuous improvement to reduce costs and increase throughput
Work with procurement and external vendors for smooth manufacturing scale-up
Benefits
Required PPE provided or reimbursed
Opportunity to work in a fast-paced hardware startup environment
Collaborative team culture with cross-functional engagement
Hands-on involvement in innovative manufacturing processes
Potential for professional growth in a mission-driven organization
Full Job Description
What You'll Do
Design, develop and optimize manufacturing processes and production lines for our desalination systems, from first builds through high rate production.
Lead DFM/DFA initiatives: tooling, fixtures, robot end-effectors, conveyors, automation programming, control systems.
Work cross functionally to select equipment, define cycle-times, yield targets, cost-per-unit, quality metrics.
Develop work instructions, process flows, layout designs; implement and validate manufacturing methods for new systems.
Own continuous improvement efforts: reduce cost, increase throughput, improve reliability and uptime in a fast-moving hardware startup environment.
Collaborate with procurement, quality, test, integration teams and external vendors/suppliers to ensure smooth scale up & ramp out of manufacturing.
What We're Looking For
Required:
Bachelor's in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or equivalent).
2+ years as a project lead
Strong CAD (SolidWorks / other) experience and familiarity with manufacturing automation, tooling & fixture design.
Hands on mindset: comfortable designing the process and also working with operators & equipment to validate and refine.
Strong problem solving skills, ability to operate in ambiguous/higher growth environment, clear communicator across teams.
Preferred:
Experience in consumer hardware production, or systems with high-volume manufacturing.
Knowledge of pumps, valves, pressure vessels, fluid systems or broadly mechanical-hardware manufacturing.
Experience with automation programming, conveyors, robotics, fluid/pressure equipment.
Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical process control (SPC).
Experience in a hardware startup or mission-driven organization.
Physical Requirements (with or without reasonable accommodation)
Hands on work on development hardware.
Long periods of standing, crouching, walking.
Lifting up to 50 lbs.
Wear required PPE (safety glasses, gloves, safety shoes) in production areas. Required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety shoes, will be provided or reimbursed by Vital Lyfe.
Location Requirement: Ability to work 100% onsite in Torrance, CA (remote or hybrid work will not be considered)
