Special Manufacturing Projects Lead

Neros is transforming a defense industry mired in costly, behemoth machinery—to circumvent a looming vulnerability gap, to give dismounted soldiers a fighting chance against tanks, and ultimately, to get as many humans off the battlefield as possible.

While consumer technology is evolving by bounds on the smaller-cheaper-better path, U.S. defense technology wallows in the large, centralized, and wildly expensive paradigm. Our air, land, and sea machinery budget is staggering; yet these large assets can still be vulnerable to very small weapons. When swarm technology comes into its own, the asymmetry will escalte. Nowhere is the pattern more glaring than in small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS)—drones.

Neros is hiring a Special Manufacturing Projects Lead to stand up new in‑house manufacturing capabilities that enable rapid vertical integration and higher product reliability. This role will build early prototype processes and equipment into repeatable lines that can be transferred into operations for scale production.

• Lead the end‑to‑end buildout of new manufacturing processes and lines, starting with drone motors and SMT and expanding into additional domains over time
• Define process flows, work instructions, fixtures, test methods, and quality gates to ensure output meets engineering specs
• Source, purchase, and commission industrial equipment and tooling, including vendor selection and factory acceptance where needed
• Partner tightly with engineering and NPI to translate product requirements into manufacturable designs and stable, high‑yield processes
• Build and manage early‑stage supply chain plans for materials, consumables, and outsourced sub‑steps, with a bias toward speed and learning
• Drive continuous improvement from first article through pilot runs, including yield, throughput, and cost reduction

• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, NPI, or industrialization for electromechanical products
• Demonstrated experience standing up a new manufacturing line from prototype through pilot production, including equipment selection, commissioning, and ramp
• Hands‑on experience with one or more of: electric motor manufacturing, winding and magnet assembly, precision mechanical assembly, SMT/process engineering, or fiber/composite‑related processes
• Strong capability translating engineering requirements into process controls, acceptance tests, and quality plans (FAI, control plans, SPC or equivalent)
• Experience specifying and designing fixtures, jigs, and test equipment, and working with vendors or internal teams to fabricate them
• Experience sourcing equipment and working with domestic and international suppliers, including lead times, spares, and serviceability
• Strong project management skills: build schedules, manage risks, drive cross‑functional execution, and communicate clearly

• Experience bringing up manufacturing lines in resource‑constrained, fast‑iteration environments (e.g. hardware startup)
• Background in supplier development and cost modeling for make‑vs‑buy decisions
• Familiarity with defense, export controls, or ITAR‑adjacent manufacturing constraints
• Experience building production test coverage for motors or power electronics (dyno testing, vibration, thermal, burn‑in)
• Experience with factory layout and facility planning (utilities, EHS, material flow, and ergonomics)

$190,000-$220,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Export Compliance:
As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.” The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.