WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
- Own the full program lifecycle for Bright Machines’ next-generation manufacturing platform—from concept and design through validation, release, and customer deployment.
- Partner closely with hardware (mechanical, electrical, robotics, motion, safety), systems, and software teams to deliver scalable, production-ready automation systems.
- Lead cross-functional planning for major platform features and hardware releases. Define scope, timelines, milestones, cost targets, and system requirements.
- Bring clarity to system architecture, integration, and validation plans.
- Think at the system level. Identify dependencies across mechanical design, controls, embedded systems, robotics, and manufacturing. Ensure hardware, firmware, and software are aligned and validated early.
- Drive disciplined hardware development processes, including requirements definition and traceability, architecture and design reviews, prototype builds, validation planning, and system-level testing.
- Provide clear updates to leadership on program health, risks, budget, and schedule. Highlight trade-offs and drive decisions quickly.
- Deliver milestones on time and within budget. Escalate issues early and remove blockers to keep momentum strong.
- Help build scalable program management processes that improve predictability, quality, and cross-team alignment as the platform grows.
- Bring structure and urgency without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Travel: Up to 25%, primarily during late-stage builds, supplier work, and customer validation.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- 7+ years leading complex hardware programs in robotics, automation, industrial systems, or electromechanical product development.
- Experience taking hardware platforms from early architecture through NPI, validation, and production ramp.
- Strong systems-level knowledge of: Mechanical design and motion systems, Industrial robotics and automation cells, Electrical systems and controls hardware, Manufacturing readiness and supply chain constraints and Safety and compliance in industrial environments
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
- Experience working with executive stakeholders and managing customer-facing hardware programs with tight timelines and high reliability standards.
- Able to clearly communicate complex technical trade-offs to both engineers and executives.
- Track record of delivering reliable physical products into production environments.
- Open to domestic and international travel as needed (up to 25%, primarily in later program stages).
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAD
- Experience building modular or platform-based automation systems.
- Background in scaling hardware programs in high-growth robotics or manufacturing technology companies.
- Experience with contract manufacturers and global supply chains.
- Hands-on familiarity with system integration labs, pilot builds, and factory acceptance testing (FAT/SAT).
- Experience operating in Bay Area–level velocity environments with aggressive milestones and world-class engineering talent.
BE EMPOWERED TO CHANGE AN INDUSTRY
Bright Machines is a next-generation, AI-enabled manufacturer focused on data center infrastructure assembly operations. Bright Machines uses its proprietary AI-based robotics and software to assemble AI infrastructure hardware products (i.e., data center servers) for hyperscalers and leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). With its new AI factory, Bright Machines addresses increasing market demands for computing power due to the surge of AI and the U.S. national mandate to reshore manufacturing by building data center infrastructure at scale with higher quality and shorter time-to-market.
Bright Machines is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an integration center in Guadalajara, Mexico. The company has been recognized as one of Forbes’ AI 50, awarded “Best AI-based Solution for Manufacturing” by AI Breakthrough, named a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum, and highlighted by several other leading technology and innovation organizations.
Skills Required
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field
- 7+ years leading complex hardware programs in robotics or automation
- Experience taking hardware platforms from early architecture through NPI and production ramp
- Strong systems-level knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams
- Experience working with executive stakeholders on hardware programs
- Track record of delivering reliable physical products into production environments
What We Do
We deliver intelligent, software-defined manufacturing by bringing together our flexible factory robots with intelligent software, production data and machine learning. Our growing, global team of more than 300 robotics, software and manufacturing industry veterans believe building physical things should be as seamless and simple as creating digital products. Our software-defined manufacturing platform helps customers innovate faster to meet the growing demands of a new era of manufacturing.
