Director of Manufacturing

ABOUT US: Volta Labs is an applications company that is revolutionizing the future of genomics. We are a Boston based, venture-backed biotech startup that makes extracting vital information from biological samples is as simple as pressing a button, through our flagship product Callisto. Our product speeds up processing time for scientists and increases accessibility to important genetic information for patients. Sitting at the intersection of science and engineering, we invite you to join us on our journey to shape the future of genomics, where insatiable curiosity is encouraged and every Voltarian makes an impact. THE TEAM: You'll join a team of innovative thinkers who love to experiment, collaborate, and win together. We are passionate about pushing the boundaries of automation, biology, computing, robotics, design, and user experience to benefit our customers and the world. In this role, you will be responsible for owning the design process and improvements of manufacturing for our product, Callisto. A successful candidate will have experience managing teams, establishing process and continuity on the manufacturing floor and scaling manufacturing from tens to hundreds of units for a complex electro mechanical product. Day 1 to Year 1:
  • Own the full manufacturing floor, including managing technicians and manufacturing engineers
  • Evaluate current production processes, layouts, and identify key bottlenecks
  • Build and implement short- and long-term plans to increase throughput and reliability
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to resolve electro-mechanical design challenges for the Callisto instrument
  • Create systems and documentation to support quality, repeatability, and scale
  • Help grow output from 40 units/year now to 100+ units by 2026
  • Identify talent and resource gaps to support scaling and address technical challenges
  • Champion a hands-on, solution-oriented culture in the manufacturing team

  • Within 3 months you’ll…Work to deeply understand current manufacturing workflows, team capabilities, and product requirements. Map out key technical and process issues across the floor, identify and start to prioritize urgent issues.

    By 6 months you’ll…Implement improvements to high-impact areas (process flow, yield, uptime, throughput), drive cross-functional initiatives with R&D, Product, and QA and help set a roadmap for scaling output toward goals. Begin shaping hiring and resource plans based on observed gaps.

    At 12+ months you’ll…Drive long-term manufacturing initiatives such as scaling strategy, process documentation, and manufacturing design. Continuously iterate on a strong foundation of growth, preparing for the next phase of scale up ( 100+ units/year)
    Your Experience
  • 7+ years of industry experience with preference on experience in engineering and manufacturing of electromechanical devices.
  • Strong technical background in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering, with experience transitioning into manufacturing leadership roles
  • Proven track record of working closely with technicians and engineers to resolve hands-on technical challenges on the production floor.
  • Experience implementing and improving manufacturing processes, scaling production, and driving efficiency and throughput
  • Startup or high-growth environment experience—comfortable with ambiguity, change, and fast iteration
  • Ability to think systematically and make data-driven decisions based on production metrics and technical analysis
  • Experience leading small to mid-sized teams, with a hands-on leadership style
  • Familiarity with design for manufacturability (DFM), quality systems, and documentation best practices
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills—able to work across engineering, product, and leadership teams
  • Industry experience in life sciences tools, 3D printing, or medical devices strongly preferred
  • This is a full-time position that requires a significant amount of in-person work and collaboration onsite at our Seaport Office in Boston, MA. If you are unable to relocate or commute to the Boston MA area, this role won't be a match.

    Our Benefits and Perks:

    Robust Equity Program, to build future wealth through stock options with high growth potential
    Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage, including Medical, Dental, & Vision
    HSA with monthly company contribution, & FSA
    Sponsored Commuter Benefit Plans
    Access to Our 401K Plan, to save for your future
    12 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
    Paid Time Off, because we understand the importance of time off for rest and adventure
    11 Paid Holidays
    Twice Weekly Company Lunches, office snacks, beverages, & treats
    Monthly Team Happy Hours and regular team outings!

    We are an equal opportunity employer and foster diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, and we actively seek out and value diverse backgrounds and experiences.

    Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself positively contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of genomics!

    Volta Labs, Inc. makes scalable automation for genetic engineering. Our mission is to make tools to engineer biology.

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