Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

The Top Line

Here’s the deal. We’re all about helping researchers break free from tools that just don’t cut it. Unleashing problem-tackling products that make a huge difference in the real science they do every day. That’s our mantra, our promise and we own it. Our tribe is different. We thrive on moving fast, taking risks and persevering through failure. We embrace the unknown and we are happy to make mistakes. We are there for each other and we crave diversity because we know that building a truly diverse tribe will make us better at everything.

The Job

Unchained Labs is looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer in Pleasanton, CA who loves getting hands-on and making great products even better. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our instrument and consumables manufacturing—jumping in to solve real technical problems, keeping builds moving, and turning good processes into great ones. You’ll be a key voice for Manufacturing on cross-functional new product development teams, making sure designs scale cleanly from concept to production.

You’ll use your sharp engineering instincts to evaluate machined and assembled parts, zero in on what truly matters, and design smart, efficient assembly and quality control processes. Along the way, you’ll build strong, trusted partnerships with our suppliers to ensure everything works the way it should—every time. Most importantly, you’ll help level up our manufacturing capabilities and make life easier for our rockstar production teams by removing friction, improving flow, and enabling them to do their best work.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical leader for the production and testing of highly complex life-science instruments, resolving critical issues and ensuring builds run smoothly and predictably.
• Own and drive continuous improvement initiatives by developing manufacturing solutions and implementing engineering changes that improve quality, efficiency, and scalability.
• Act as a primary Manufacturing partner to R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production, influencing design decisions and improving processes across drawing review, production planning, inspection, and test.
• Lead the manufacturing introduction of new products and product upgrades, including process development, pilot builds, scale-up execution, and release to production.
• Define and standardize assembly and test processes by creating clear, effective work instructions and delivering training that enables technicians to consistently build world-class instruments.
• Establish and improve incoming inspection strategies for electronic and mechanical components to ensure early detection of quality issues.
• Own nonconforming material investigations, disposition decisions, and corrective action efforts, driving root cause resolution and long-term prevention.
• Use data, metrics, and structured analysis to identify trends, set priorities, and drive measurable improvements in manufacturing performance.
• Maintain and improve manufacturing documentation, including BOMs, technical drawings, specifications, and related records.
• Provide leadership in sustaining meetings and cross-functional projects, helping set direction, align teams, and drive issues to closure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical preferred) or equivalent hands-on industry experience building and supporting complex hardware.
• 5–8+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production-focused engineering role supporting high-tech instruments or equipment; experience in life-science products is a strong plus.
• Strong ability to read, interpret, and influence engineering drawings and specifications; working knowledge of CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred) is desirable.
• Proven track record of solving complex, ambiguous technical problems using sound engineering judgment and structured troubleshooting.
• Experience working with complex electromechanical systems; mechanical design experience is a plus.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, and supplier teams.
• Self-directed, resilient, and motivated by ownership—comfortable taking on big challenges, navigating a fast-paced environment, and doing the work required to build something exceptional.