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Orchard Robotics is building AI-powered camera systems that automate agricultural operations and secure America's food supply. The company has raised over $25 million from leading investors and is the industry leader in farm automation technology.
As Director of Manufacturing Operations & Factory, you will design, launch, and run Orchard's San Francisco factory from the ground up. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role responsible for transforming engineering designs into reliable, repeatable, and economical production systems as the company scales.
You will own all aspects of manufacturing operations including production design, capacity planning, technician hiring and management, procurement, inventory management, and manufacturing quality. You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with Hardware Engineering on design for manufacturability, bills of materials, and engineering changes.
Key responsibilities include: designing assembly processes, production flow, work instructions, fixtures, tooling, and test stations; translating commercial forecasts into capacity, labor, supply chain, and production plans; building and managing a team of electromechanical assembly technicians; purchasing components and managing suppliers; establishing incoming, in-process, and final QA procedures; collaborating with engineering on design-for-manufacturing improvements; owning manufacturing KPIs including cost, throughput, and first-pass yield; and ensuring every system is built, tested, documented, and ready for deployment.
You should have 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, operations, or production for complex electromechanical products. Experience with procurement, suppliers, inventory, BOMs, production planning, and ERP/MRP systems is essential. You need strong understanding of manufacturing quality, documentation, process control, and root-cause analysis. Experience with rugged electronics, robotics, automotive, or field-deployed hardware is a plus. The ideal candidate is hands-on, highly organized, low-ego, proactive in identifying and solving problems, and has high standards for safety, quality, and delivery.
This is a full-time, five-days-per-week role at the San Francisco office/factory. The company offers medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of employee premiums covered. You'll work closely with the CEO, Hardware Engineering, Operations, and field teams in a close-knit, highly driven environment.
