Director of Software Engineering

About the position

At Machina Labs, our software team is at the forefront of exposing our disruptive robotic manufacturing process to a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, and heavy manufacturing. We enable designers, engineers, and business users to leverage our AI-powered tools to revolutionize manufacturing, allowing critical parts like those used in planes, cars, and rockets to be produced in hours, not months. As a Director of Software Engineering, you will lead a dynamic, hands-on team of software engineers and take ownership of developing and improving applications that provide powerful, intuitive interfaces for our robotic manufacturing cells. These interfaces allow users to perform AI-assisted design tasks, send new designs and instructions to robots, and track the manufacturing process through advanced in-house sensing technologies. You will work closely with software engineers, roboticists, mechanical engineers, and materials scientists to advance our mission to redefine innovation in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a diverse team of software engineers, providing hands-on technical leadership while also acting as a people manager.
• Own the complete software experience, from customer-facing applications to internal tools for factory technicians and process engineers.
• Experience in environments where software development directly interfaces with hardware and physical systems, such as robotics, machine learning, or advanced manufacturing.
• Work closely with roboticists, mechanical engineers, material scientists, and other key stakeholders to build and deliver integrated solutions that solve complex challenges in manufacturing.
• In an early-stage startup environment, work iteratively, demo regularly, and adapt quickly.
• Develop and refine software infrastructure, team processes, and company culture to enable rapid iteration and high-velocity feature releases.
• Act as both a leader and an active contributor to the engineering team.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience in software engineering management, ideally in a fast-growing, technically complex environment.
• Proven experience in full-stack software development, with a solid understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and systems thinking.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and inspire engineers, foster team collaboration, and effectively communicate complex technical concepts.
• Comfortable with a fast-paced, constantly changing environment, adaptable, and able to iterate and ship software rapidly while maintaining quality.
• Strong knowledge of engineering best practices, including code reviews, testing, and deployment strategies.
• Advocate for a strong developer experience, helping to choose the right tools, maintain healthy repositories, and establish efficient team habits and infrastructure.
• Ability to clearly articulate tradeoffs, prioritize features based on business value, and make data-driven decisions.
• Willing and able to actively contribute to the codebase and provide technical direction.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with robotic systems, 3D printing, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Knowledge of machine learning, AI, or deep tech applications in industrial contexts.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and tools like Jira, GitHub, or GitLab.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• PTO
• Stock Options