Boston Dynamics is looking for an Associate Director, Advanced Manufacturing to join our Prototype Operations Team..
This role leads manufacturing engineering and advanced manufacturing for Prototype Operations, building the capabilities that turn new designs into working hardware. The Associate Director heads a team of manufacturing engineers and advanced manufacturing engineers who concept, design, implement, and sustain those capabilities - processes, tooling, fixtures, equipment, automation, and assembly and test stations - from quantity zero through prototype production volume.
Because Prototype Operations sits within the Product & Technology organization, this team works shoulder to shoulder with design engineering. The Associate Director owns the loop between design and build: bringing DFx into designs early, feeding build learnings back quickly, and making sure products and processes hit their targets for the optimal balance of speed and quality to enable development.
Beyond today's builds, the role prepares processes proven in prototype to scale or transfer to high-volume production. It also shapes the internal prototype operations capabilities roadmap, grows engineering talent, and informs long-term product and operational decisions.
Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robots, tackling some of the toughest robotics challenges. For years, our awe-inspiring viral videos on YouTube have shown the world what remarkably capable robots can do. Now we are quickly becoming a recognized leader in automation solutions for industrial applications and warehouse logistics.
How you will make an impact:
- Provide strategic and technical leadership to manufacturing engineering and advanced manufacturing engineering teams across the full capability lifecycle: concept, design, build, qualification, and sustaining. This may include an industrial engineer and a packaging engineer too.
- Own build readiness for prototype production: process flows, work instructions, tooling, fixtures, equipment, line layouts, and capacity plans that meet build schedules and volume targets.
- Set and execute the advanced manufacturing roadmap; evaluate, pilot, and deploy new processes and automation (e.g., automated assembly, precision alignment, additive, laser welding, precision polishing) that improves in-house development speed for engineering.
- Embed manufacturing engineering in the design process: lead DFx reviews and provide manufacturability, assembly, test, and serviceability input at early product development gates.
- Close the loop between build and design - capture build issues, drive root cause and corrective action with Design, Quality, and Test, and manage the manufacturing impact of engineering changes.
- Define and drive manufacturing engineering processes, standards, and metrics (capacity, readiness, first-pass yield, cycle time, TAKT time, process capability) to support data-driven continuous improvement.
- Prepare processes for scale and transfer: lightweight PFMEAs, control plans, process validation, and documentation that allow prototype processes to move to high-volume production internally or at contract manufacturers.
- Manage external partners - integrators, equipment suppliers, and contract manufacturers - including SOWs, RFQs, design reviews, and acceptance.
- Develop resource plans, capital budgets, program priorities, and operational risk mitigation strategies to support business goals and product timelines.
- Represent Manufacturing Engineering in senior program reviews, build readiness reviews, operational forums, and business planning.
- Build, lead, and coach high-performing teams; hire key talent and provide development plans and career paths for managers, engineers, and technical leads.
- Influence long-term product and technology decisions by contributing manufacturing insight to roadmap and platform planning.
What You Bring:
Core Competencies
- Execution - Analyzes and prioritizes the varying aspects of the role, knows and/or follows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, and consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances.
- Collaboration - Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives through effective communication that understands the unique needs of different audiences.
- Innovation - Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful; anticipates and adopts innovations in business, operations, and technology applications.
- Adaptability - Adapts and pivots in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations, and moves forward productively and optimistically under conditions of change and ambiguity.
Core Knowledge & Abilities
- Expertise in manufacturing engineering for complex electro-mechanical products.
- Demonstrated success leading engineering organizations through prototype builds, NPI, and manufacturing ramp.
- Hands-on depth in assembly process development, fixture and tooling design, automation, and equipment specification and qualification.
- Strong foundation in manufacturing and design engineering principles: lean, PFMEA, SPC, DOE, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and process validation.
- Comfortable operating where designs are still changing; balances build speed against process rigor and knows when each matters.
- Skilled in data-driven decision-making, risk management, and process development across multiple programs and stakeholders.
- Working knowledge of PLM, ERP, and MES or build-data systems.
- Proven ability to influence senior leadership and external partners through business case development, technical insight, and clear communication.
- Strong organizational leadership and talent development skills across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Expected Experience:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high-tech hardware, including 4+ years in engineering leadership roles with managers as direct reports.
- Proven track record standing up new manufacturing capabilities from concept through production, including custom equipment and automation.
- Experience in both prototype or low-volume and high-volume production environments.
- Experience transferring processes to global or outsourced manufacturing partners is preferred.
- Experience with robotics, actuators, or similarly complex electro-mechanical assemblies is preferred.
We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas for this position.
The salary range for this position will be clearly stated in the job posting as required by Massachusetts law. The base pay range for this position is between $178,000 - $221,000. Base pay will depend on multiple individualized factors including, but not limited to internal equity, job related knowledge, skills and experience. This range represents a good faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting.
Boston Dynamics will never ask you to divulge your personal financial or account information as part of its recruiting process.
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