The posting
About the role
Pensa Labs designs and builds benchtop CNC wire forming machines used by orthodontic labs, medical device manufacturers, aerospace and fabricators around the world. Every machine is assembled and tested in-house in Brooklyn, and new machines are in development.
We are looking for an Production Engineer to own how our machines get built and to make sure our customers succeed with them. This is a hands-on role on a small team. You will spend as much time on the shop floor with our technicians as you will at a desk, and your work will directly shape the quality of every machine we ship and the experience of every customer who runs one.
What you'll do
Manufacturing and production
- Own the assembly, test and shipping process for our wire forming machines, from incoming parts through final acceptance.
- Map current workflows, measure build and test times, and lead improvements that reduce labor hours, rework and lead time.
- Use time studies and capacity analysis to set production standards and plan staffing, tooling, fixtures and floor layout.
- Bring new machines from prototype into production, giving R&D design-for-manufacturing and assembly feedback along the way.
- Define inspection points, acceptance tests and calibration procedures for every machine we ship; track first-pass yield and lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Build the quality records our medical and aerospace customers expect, including part traceability, build records and supplier documentation.
- Write and maintain clear work instructions, BOMs, test procedures and build records that a new technician can follow.
- Manage inventory of production materials, set reorder points and oversee order fulfillment and shipping.
- Work with machine shops and component suppliers on quality, cost and lead time, including country-of-origin documentation for government customers.
- Train and guide manufacturing technicians on new processes and standards.
- Sales support: Run sample parts and feasibility tests for prospects, help configure machines and tooling for quotes, and lead technical demonstrations.
Customer support
- Onboard new customers: installation, setup and operator training, on-site or remote.
- Be the technical point of contact for customers, troubleshooting machine, tooling and software issues and resolving them quickly.
- Support preventive maintenance, repairs, calibration and spare parts for machines in the field.
- Keep a log of customer issues and feature requests, and feed what you learn back into production, R&D and software.
- Help create customer-facing documentation such as setup guides, maintenance procedures and FAQs.
What success looks like
First 90 days: You have built our machines yourself, documented the current build and test process, established baseline build hours and first-pass yield, and handled customer support cases on your own.
6 months: Work instructions and test procedures are complete and current, inventory runs on defined reorder points, customer issues are logged and tracked to resolution, and you have delivered a measurable reduction in build hours or rework.
12 months: New machines have a defined, documented production process, quality and support metrics are reviewed monthly, field issues are trending down, and we can increase output without a matching increase in labor.
What you bring
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of manufacturing or production engineering experience, ideally with electromechanical equipment built in low to medium volumes.
- Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, process mapping, time studies and statistical tools (SPC, process capability).
- Experience with structured problem solving (5 Whys, fishbone, 8D) and PFMEA.
- Ability to read mechanical drawings and GD&T, and to work in 3D CAD (Autodesk Fusion).
- Hands-on comfort with hand tools, measurement instruments, basic wiring and CNC equipment.
- A customer-first attitude and patience working through problems with operators of all skill levels.
- Clear written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain technical issues to technicians, engineers and customers.
Nice to have
- Experience with ISO 9001, ISO 13485 or AS9100 quality systems.
- Experience with inventory management systems.
- Experience with CRM and ticket tracking
- Background with motion control, servo systems or CNC machine building.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent.
- Experience scaling a product from prototype to production in a startup or small company.
About Pensa Labs
Pensa Labs pioneered benchtop CNC wire forming and has since grown into a maker of production wire forming equipment for orthodontic, medical, aerospace and industrial customers. We are passionate about digital fabrication and the way it helps people make better parts in less time and at lower cost.
Our machines are the brainchild of Pensa, an award-winning Brooklyn design and engineering firm. Pensa Labs is co-located with Pensa, so you will work alongside talented industrial designers, mechanical and electrical engineers who develop products, brands and strategies for clients across many industries.
Our team enjoys health insurance, a 401(k), generous paid time off and commuter benefits.
Pensa Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic.
