Production Engineering Lead

Job Description

Location : Kailua, Hawaii

Type : Full-Time, On-Site

Level : Minimum 2-5 years or relevant experience

We’re looking for a hands-on Production Manager to establish and lead our first in-house production operation. You’ll have a unique opportunity to build a production facility from scratch - designing the layout, defining processes, writing SOPs, implementing lean practices, inventory, and building a high-performance production team. You’ll work closely with our product engineering team to help improve the development cycle and reliability, and implement key processes and standards to build a supply chain and production environment.

About Us

We’re a VC-backed ($12M total raised) startup building a next generation heat pump right here in Hawaii, with a pipeline of large scale deployments planned for 2026 and beyond. As we prepare to launch the production of our first product, we’re setting up a small-scale, flexible assembly line designed for rapid iteration and quality manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Process development and improvements
• Design and implement the initial factory layout for low-volume assembly.
• Define workstation configurations, material flow, and ergonomic workflows.
• Develop and document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assembly and testing steps.
• Implement 5S and lean manufacturing methodologies to minimize waste and optimize throughput.
• Establish quality control checkpoints and traceability procedures.
• Continuously analyze performance data and implement improvements to efficiency, yield, and safety.
• Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination
• Set up an inventory management system (IMS) for parts, consumables, and finished goods.
• Define material handling, labeling, and reorder processes.
• Coordinate with procurement and logistics teams to ensure on-time material availability.
• Product and Team Development
• Partner with design, mechanical, and test engineers to resolve manufacturing issues and implement direct changes to the product.
• Define short-term and long-term capacity plans and product roadmap.
• Support pilot builds and ramp-up to larger production volumes.
• Hire and train production support team members.

Qualifications

Bonus Points

Why Join

You’ll be helping to design not just the product — but the entire production ecosystem that brings it to life. If you’re passionate about building physical products, enjoy working hands-on, and love creating order and efficiency from scratch, we’d love to meet you.