Mechanical Operations Lab Lead

Etched is looking for a Mechanical Lab Operations Lead to own the day-to-day operational backbone of our R&D and prototyping facility. This is a highly cross-functional, hands-on role responsible for everything required to keep a hybrid clean/dirty mechanical lab running seamlessly. You will manage a diverse footprint that spans a traditional machine shop, an advanced additive manufacturing and post-processing facility, a high-precision inspection area, and a large-scale inventory/rack build space. Reporting to the Head of Lab Operations, you will be the ultimate custodian of lab safety, machine uptime, asset tracking, and space workflow. You will partner directly with mechanical, thermal, and hardware validation engineers across multiple product lines to triage fabrication requests, manage material pipelines, enforce EH&S compliance, and maintain an environment where engineering can move at lightning speed without sacrificing organization or safety.

Responsibilities

Machine Shop Ownership: Supervise and maintain machine shop equipment, including manual/CNC mills, lathes, drill presses, band saws, chop saws, sheet metal brakes, and associated tooling. Ensure all machines are clean, lubricated, and safe for use; 3D Printer Farm & Clean Lab Management: Oversee a high-throughput additive manufacturing suite, including an FDM printer farm, SLA systems, and Nylon SLS/FDM printers. Manage post-processing infrastructure, including bead blasters, compressors, fume hoods, and specialized ventilation equipment; Equipment Commissioning & Calibration: Receive, position, and stand up incoming lab machinery. Maintain strict calibration and preventative maintenance schedules for precision instruments, including an Instron universal testing machine, microscopes, and granite surface inspection tables; Vendor & Contractor Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment manufacturers, tooling suppliers, and external maintenance technicians; Safety, EH&S, & Environment Control: Enforce Shop Safety: Establish and enforce strict lab safety protocols, including machine guarding, personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance, and proper tool-use certifications for engineering staff; Hazardous Materials & Ventilation: Manage chemical, resin, and consumable inventories; ensure proper storage, safety data sheet (SDS) logging, and compliant hazardous waste disposal (resins, solvents, nylon powders); Facilities Coordination: Partner with site services to manage lab infrastructure needs, including dedicated electrical drops, compressed air lines, exhaust systems, and facility chillers/PSUs; Inventory, Logistics, & Space Management: Inventory System Ownership: Keep real-time counts of raw stock (aluminum, plastics), fasteners, structural components, cables, hoses, and project-specific storage; Rack Build & Assembly Logistics: Optimize the workflow of a dedicated Rack Build Area. Coordinate the intake of heavy infrastructure components and ensure staging areas are clear and organized for active engineering builds; Procurement Workflows: Proactively flag low-stock items and manage end-to-end procurement for lab shop consumables (endmills, blades, 3D printer filaments/resins, hardware); Request Triage & Engineering Support: Workflow Triage: Define and run an intake process for engineering fabrication, 3D printing, and assembly requests, ensuring clear prioritization across multiple parallel projects; Layout Optimization: Continuously evaluate the physical workflow of the lab - refining the footprint of workbenches, tool chests, and storage racks to eliminate bottlenecks and optimize throughput

Requirements

5+ years of experience managing a mechanical lab, machine shop, prototyping facility, or hardware R&D space; Hands-on operational familiarity with manual machine shop tools (mills, lathes, saws, brakes) and safety requirements; Practical experience operating and maintaining a fleet of modern 3D printers (FDM, SLA, and Nylon/SLS processes) and post-processing equipment; Proven ability to build and scale organization systems - such as inventory asset management software, 5S cleanliness methodologies, or request tracking queues - from the ground up; Deep working knowledge of OSHA standards, shop safety procedures, PPE enforcement, and EH&S compliance regarding chemicals and particulate filtration; Ability to operate in a standing shop environment, handle physical tools, and lift/move heavy lab inventory or equipment setups when necessary

Nice to have

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical field (equivalent deep hands-on shop experience is highly valued); Experience with CNC programming (CAM), precision laser cutter operation, or custom fixture fabrication; Familiarity with heavy hardware infrastructure support, including liquid cooling loops, facility chillers, manifold systems, and power distribution units (PSUs); Past experience at a fast-paced hardware startup where lab spaces and operational processes had to be built out dynamically; Experience using project management tools (Jira, spreadsheets) and basic CAD/slicing software to review engineering files for fabricability

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage; $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits; Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office; Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row); Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more; Daily lunch and dinner in our office; Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification