Manufacturing Engineer - Quality at WindBorne Systems

WindBorne Systems is supercharging weather models with a unique proprietary data source: a global constellation of next-generation smart weather balloons targeting the most critical atmospheric data. We design, manufacture, and operate our own balloons, using the data they collect to generate otherwise unattainable weather intelligence.

Our mission is to eliminate weather uncertainty, and in the process help humanity adapt to climate change, be that predicting hurricanes or speeding the adoption of renewables. We are building a future in which the planet is instrumented by thousands of our microballoons, eliminating gaps in our understanding of the planet and giving people and businesses the information they need to make critical decisions. The founding team of Stanford engineers was named Forbes 2019 30 under 30 and is backed by top investors including Khosla Ventures.

WindBorne is looking for a Manufacturing Engineer with a focus on quality to support the reliably operation of both our flight hardware and the equipment used to build it, as we scale production exponentially. You will own the development and implementation of  an internal quality system  and will play a crucial hand-on role in improving the throughput and consistency of manufacturing processes reliant on custom-designed tooling.  You will also be responsible for diagnosing issues with returned units, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective measures to line equipment and manufacturing procedures to enhance flight reliability and performance.

The manufacturing engineer role at WindBorne is fairly unusual thanks to a combination of two factors: 

First, there is still tremendous potential for improvement of the hardware capabilities, even as we simultaneously work to scale. It’s not unreasonable to expect a major design update to come with a 2x performance improvement so it’s an absolute necessity to rapidly move from R&D to volume production even at the risk of reliability issues.

Secondly, as a data company, we are both the builders and the users of our hardware, and can freely set the acceptable level of reliability based on operational needs. If we can improve performance by 50% but raise failure rates by 10%, that can be a totally worthwhile trade to get more net data.

Your job will not be to set and enforce a uniform standard, but rather to actively make decisions on what we improve, what we tolerate, and what we allow to slip in furtherance of the overall mission of enabling truly global data collection.

We're dedicated to helping humanity adapt to climate change as fast as possible, and you can be a part of our mission to make this global societal impact. If you like the idea of working on cutting-edge technology, and working with a fast-moving team, WindBorne is the place for you.

Responsibilities

• Optimize manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.

• Support new product development projects to ensure quality requirements are met throughout the product lifecycle.

• Evaluate, maintain, and improve manufacturing tooling, fixtures, and equipment to improve production efficiency and product quality.

• Maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for manufacturing processes.

• Develop and implement quality control plans and procedures to uphold product quality standards.

• Implement lean manufacturing principles to streamline processes and reduce costs.

• Conduct root cause analysis and lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to address quality issues and drive continuous improvement.

• Perform quality audits and inspections of manufacturing processes, materials, and finished products to identify non-conformities and areas for enhancement.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve quality-related issues and implement process improvements.

• Establish and monitor key quality metrics to evaluate process effectiveness and drive data-driven decision-making.

• Provide training and guidance to manufacturing personnel on quality standards, procedures, and best practices.

• Lead supplier quality management activities, including supplier evaluation, audits, and corrective action plans.

• Handle quality inquiries of returned units and issues in the field, including investigation, resolution, and communication of corrective actions.

Skills and Qualifications

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, or related field. Master's degree preferred.

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in manufacturing.

• Strong knowledge of quality management principles, tools, and methodologies.

• Acute attention to detail.

• Proficiency in root cause analysis techniques and statistical process control methods.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across functional teams.

• Experience in process improvement and lean manufacturing principles 

• Experience working within a Digital HQ chat platform, such as Slack.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with PCB and PCBA manufacturing processes.

• Basic proficiency with Linux operating systems.

• Understanding of electro-mechanical system design and functionality.

Benefits

• 401(k)

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance 100% covered

• Unlimited PTO

• Incentive Stock Option Plan

Location

Address: 910 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto, CA. In-person required.