Automotive Technical Director

About Machina Labs: At Machina Labs, we’re reshaping manufacturing through advanced robotics and machine learning. Our platform uses the largest 7-axis robots on the market to form 2D sheets of metal into complex 3D parts, layer-by-layer. Traditional sheet metal production was designed for scale, not flexibility. It relies on costly dies and tooling that make lower volume projects prohibitively slow and expensive. We’re changing that. Whether you’re a defense prime building a few thousand airframes or an automaker building next-generation panels, Machina Labs gives you the ability to iterate and manufacture at the speed of software.  With support from the venture arms of Toyota, NVIDIA, and Lockheed Martin, we’re accelerating the future of manufacturing, one where factories are flexible, production is on-demand, and innovation is unconstrained.  Job Description: Machina Labs is seeking an Automotive Technical Director to serve as our senior technical leader for the automotive sector, translating deep automotive OEM and Tier 1 manufacturing expertise into a new, first-of-a kind customization offering by Machina Labs. This role bridges advanced robotics with automotive manufacturing rigor, ensuring our technology meets industry standards for quality, manufacturability, and throughput. You will act as the technical face of Machina Labs with automotive customers while partnering internally with Engineering and Operations to embed automotive workflows and processes into our factories. This is a strategic and hands-on role focused on shaping our automotive offering, supporting customer engagements, and driving the evolution from early concepts to repeatable and scalable production. Key Responsibilities:  Define and Scale Machina’s Automotive Offering:

Lead the evolution of Machina Labs’ automotive solutions from early production programs to scaled, repeatable deployment.

Apply deep expertise in BIW, stamping and forming, welding, painting, and final assembly to ensure manufacturability, quality, and production readiness.

Establish and institutionalize production readiness frameworks that meet OEM and Tier 1 standards.

Serve as the Technical Leader for Automotive Customers:

Act as the senior customer-facing technical authority for OEM and Tier 1 engagements.

Support RFQs, technical reviews, manufacturing assessments, and executive-level discussions.

Build long-term customer trust through technical credibility, clarity of communication, and disciplined execution.

Shape Industry Engagement and Product Direction:

Represent Machina Labs in strategic automotive engagements, conferences, and industry forums.

Translate external automotive trends and customer feedback into actionable input for product development, process maturity, and roadmap priorities.

Build and Embed the Automotive Playbook:

Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, and Factory Deployment teams to integrate automotive-grade standards into scalable systems.

Mentor internal teams on automotive expectations, structured decision-making, and production discipline.

Required Background & Experience:

15+ years of experience within the automotive industry at an OEM and/or Tier 1 supplier.

Deep hands-on experience with BIW, stamping and forming, welding, and paint systems.

Demonstrated success transitioning manufacturing programs from pilot to LRIP and full rate production.

Strong working knowledge of automotive quality systems and production standards.

Ability to operate effectively at both plant-floor and executive strategy levels.

Established credibility and reputation within the automotive ecosystem.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related STEM field.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in startup or high-growth environments.

Experience introducing innovative or non-traditional manufacturing technologies.

Background in advanced manufacturing, robotics, or automation systems.