NPI Manufacturing lead

Are you excited by the challenge of bringing cutting-edge robotics from concept to reality? We’re developing next-generation humanoid robots and are looking for an NPI Manufacturing Lead to support fast, collaborative product development. Working closely with design engineering, you’ll coordinate and enable in-house manufacturing teams to accelerate iteration and learning. This role focuses less on traditional production and more on empowering teams to rapidly turn innovative concepts into working robots.

Main Responsibilities

• Work with the team leads in the machine shop, assembly, and quality teams to support rapid, iterative product development.
• Forecast production needs and schedule production tasks based on project requirements and component availability.
• Identify bottlenecks and improve production workflows while maintaining flexibility for R&D.
• Contribute to the development of robust equipment layouts, process designs, and product flows that maximise efficiency and minimise costs.
• Collaborate closely with design engineering to ensure manufacturing considerations are prioritised and continuously refined.
• Ensure part and material availability while minimising inventory costs.
• Communicate progress, capacity, and challenges clearly across teams.
• Act decisively to maintain a safe, compliant work environment where the health and safety of manufacturing teams are the top priority.

Challenges

• Rapid, iterative product development demands quick turnaround without compromising build quality or reliability.
• Translating early-stage builds into scalable processes without slowing development or increasing costs.
• Forecasting production needs with finite equipment, team capacity, and component availability can be complex.
• Collaborating effectively with design engineers, quality, and workshop teams requires strong communication skills.
• Agile problem solving to keep parts and assemblies progressing.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Key Skills, and Experience

Essential

• Proven experience managing complex production workflows, including high-tolerance machined parts manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and develop manufacturing teams, fostering high performance and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and project planning.
• Ability to create and maintain detailed production schedules and prioritise tasks effectively, optimising operator efficiency to achieve maximum production output.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems for production planning.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, rapid change, and iterative product development.

Desirable

• Experience with low-volume complex electromechanical product assembly techniques and methodologies.
• Proficiency in CAD/CAM software, with the ability to interpret CAD/CAM, technical drawings, and assembly instructions.
• Familiarity with robotics or automation systems and assembly techniques.

About Engineered Arts

Engineered Arts is the leading manufacturer of full-size humanoid robots used for entertainment, education and communication. With 20 years of hardware and software development, our robots have been sold in over 30 countries worldwide with customers such as NASA, PwC, Meta and many more. Our Ameca robot is well known as ‘the face of AI’ and a social media viral success, taking advantage of the generative AI craze. Along with our ultra-realistic Mesmer range of animated figures our robots continue to surprise and excite visitors at museums, theme parks, visitor attractions and trade shows as well as aid leading universities with AI and robotics research. Our robots are poised to break into the future mega-expansion service robot segment, with applications such as front of house, receptions, check-in desks, information points and PoS. We are a team of dedicated engineers and creatives striving to develop the very best experiences for our customers. Our internal motto is ‘Be Wow’, everything we do is fun, entertaining or surprising to encounter. We always push the boundaries of what is possible in humanoid robotics, researching and developing new systems and techniques to further their appeal. We explore and challenge the human perception of robots as well as the fear and discomfort and the excitement and joy life-like mechanical humanoids present. At Engineered Arts, innovation is at the core of everything we do — and we believe true innovation only happens when diverse minds come together. We are committed to building a workplace where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives feel welcome, supported, and empowered to contribute. Whether you’re an engineer, developer, or creative thinker, we value what makes you unique. We actively promote inclusion across our hiring, design, and development practices, and we’re always looking for new ways to reflect the world around us — in our team, our robots, and our ideas. Because building the future means including everyone in it. We are committed to equal opportunity in employment and comply with all applicable non-discrimination and equal employment laws in the regions where we operate.