The Impact You'll Make

Proto Manager is responsible for managing the laboratory operations and prototype development processes. This role involves overseeing a team of technicians, ensuring the efficient execution of experiments, tests, and prototype builds. The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise, leadership skills, and the ability to drive innovation while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.

What You’ll Be Doing

Operation & Project Coordination

• Manage global R&D sampling demands, align trial schedules, balance cross-region priorities and control prototype lead times.
  Standardize full prototyping processes, implement APQP, FMEA and closed-loop corrective actions.
• Forecast capacity based on new product roadmap, evaluate equipment & labor load and submit expansion proposals to R&D Manager.
• Track project milestones, address delivery, process and material risks with contingency plans and align updates with global R&D stakeholders.

Team Management

• Distribute daily tasks, conduct performance reviews and offer technical mentorship to manufacturing, purchasing and inspection staff.
• Organize training on 5-axis & sliding-head machining and complex prototype assembly to upskill the team.
• Host daily standups and weekly trial reviews to eliminate scrap, machining defects and delays, drive CI and coach subordinates.
• Build talent pipeline via competency grading, promotion and rotation mechanisms.

Equipment, Workshop & Safety Control

• Maintain core multi-axis and sliding-head machines through daily checks and periodic maintenance to minimize downtime.
• Manage workshop 5S, tooling storage and tool consumption to cut sampling expenses.
• Execute safety protocols, perform regular risk audits and ensure all operators hold valid operation certifications.

Quality, Cost & Continuous Improvement

• Define prototype quality specs; coordinate FAI, in-process and final inspections to boost precision and reduce scrap.
• Oversee full sampling expenditure including labor, raw materials, outsourced parts and cutting tools; optimize processes & materials for cost reduction.
• Analyze recurring prototyping failures, issue improvement reports and deliver DFM suggestions for design iteration.

Cross-Functional & Global Liaison

• Act as sole contact for the prototyping center; share progress, defects and process limitations with regional R&D teams and propose design optimizations.
• Supervise procurement to standardize purchasing of prototype materials and outsourced processing for stable delivery & quality.
• Collaborate with QA, supply chain and production teams to transfer prototyping data to small batch trials.
• Prepare monthly/quarterly operation reports covering delivery performance, scrap rate, equipment utilization, sampling cost, risks and improvement plans for R&D Manager.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Mechanical Design, Mechanical Manufacturing, CNC Machining, Precision Engineering or related disciplines; minimum 5 years of precision trial production / prototype workshop management experience, with at least 3 years of team supervision experience.
• Proficient in machining processes of 5-axis turn-mill composite machines and sliding head lathes; familiar with full workflow of precision metal part processing and prototype fixture design; capable of independently reviewing manufacturability of complex components.
• Experienced in full-process new product trial production control, proficient in quality tools including FMEA, APQP, 8D Problem Solving and Six Sigma improvement methodologies.
• Capable of multi-project scheduling across regions; familiar with mechanical drawings, GD&T geometric dimensioning & tolerancing and CMM inspection standards.
  Basic English reading & writing competency to communicate with overseas R&D teams.
• Strong project coordination, risk prediction and closed-loop problem-solving ability to handle multiple parallel sampling projects simultaneously.
• Skilled in team management and staff training, with holistic thinking covering cost, quality and delivery.
  Meticulous, responsible and equipped with outstanding cross-department communication & coordination skills.

What You'll Get from Us

1. We promote from within and support your learning with mentoring, training, and access to global opportunities.
2. You’ll have flexibility, autonomy, and support to do your best work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your well-being matters to us.
3. We strive to create an inclusive work environment where people of all backgrounds are respected, and valued for who they are.
4. You’ll receive benefits like 13th salary, annual bonus, paid vacation, pension plans, personal insurance, and more. These vary by country and contract, but they’re worth asking about—we think they’re pretty great.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now to start the conversation and learn more about where your career can go with us.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.