Associate Director, Advanced Manufacturing

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.

About Bostondynamics

• 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.
• Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful; anticipates and adopts innovations in business, operations, and technology applications.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives through effective communication that understands the unique needs of different audiences.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.

Preferred

• Experience transferring processes to global or outsourced manufacturing partners is preferred.
• Experience with robotics, actuators, or similarly complex electro-mechanical assemblies is preferred.

Pay

• 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.

Expected Experience

• However, we are not able to sponsor visas for this position.
• Boston Dynamics will never ask you to divulge your personal financial or account information as part of its recruiting process. #LI-MD1