Operations Manufacturing Test Lead

Bedrock Robotics

San Francisco, CA

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JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agents, Assembly Line, Automation, Calibration, Cargo/Freight, Computer Engineering, Computer Firmware, Construction, Construction Equipment, Continuous Improvement, Contract Manufacturing, Cross-Functional, Customer Experience, Data Analysis, Data Collection, Debugging Skills, Electrical Engineering, Electricity, Electromechanics, Embedded Systems, Failure Analysis, Field Trials, Functional Testing, Funding, Hardware Development, Hardware Quality Assurance, Hardware-Software Integration, Heavy Equipment/Vehicles, Hubs, Identify Issues, Leading Edge Technology, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Manufacturing Systems, Manufacturing/Industrial Processes, Manufacturing/Production Testing, Mechanical Engineering, Network Operations Center, Order Management, Oscilloscope, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Product Support, Product/Service Launch, Production Support, Productivity Management, Project Schedule, Prototyping, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Quality Assurance Methodology, Quality Engineering, Quality Metrics, Reliability Testing, Reporting Dashboards, Risk Management, Robotics, Root Cause Analysis, SQL (Structured Query Language), Safety/Work Safety, Scalable System Development, Scripting (Scripting Languages), Set Goals, Stress Testing, System Architecture, System Operations, System Test, System Validation, Systems Scalability, Technical/Engineering Design, Test Automation, Test Data, Test Design, Test Equipment, Test Plan/Schedule, Test Scripts, Test Strategy, Test Tools, Testing, Time Management, Traceability, Validation Testing, Vehicle Fleets, Waveforms, Willing to Travel

LOCATION

San Francisco, CA

POSTED

1 day ago

Join the team bringing advanced autonomy to the built world

At Bedrock, we're moving AI out of the lab and into the real world. Our team is composed of industry veterans who helped launch Waymo, scaled Segment to a $3.2B acquisition, and grew Uber Freight to $5B in revenue. Today, we're deploying autonomous systems on heavy construction machinery across the country, accelerating project schedules of billion-dollar infrastructure projects and improving safety on job sites. Backed by $350M in funding, we're working quickly to close the gap between America's surging demand for housing, data centers, manufacturing hubs, and the construction industry's growing labor shortage.

This is where algorithms meet steel-toed boots. You'll collaborate with construction veterans and world-class engineers to solve physical-world problems that simulations can't touch. If you're ready to apply cutting-edge technology to solve meaningful problems alongside a talented team-we'd love to have you join us.

Role Overview:We are looking for a Manufacturing Test Engineer to design, build, and scale robust test systems that ensure product quality from early hardware development through high-volume manufacturing and fleet deployment.

This role sits at the intersection of hardware engineering, manufacturing, and quality-owning test strategy, infrastructure, and execution to catch design, process, workmanship, and component-level issues before products reach the field.

You will develop automated, data-driven test frameworks and diagnostic systems that enable fast bring-up, high coverage, and scalable production operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Test Strategy & Framework Development

Define end-to-end manufacturing test strategy across EVT, DVT, PVT, and production
Develop scalable hardware test frameworks covering functional, system-level, and end-of-line testing
Architect modular test systems that can evolve from prototype builds to high-volume manufacturing
Establish test coverage goals to ensure detection of:
- Design defects
- Component quality issues
- Manufacturing process variation
- Workmanship defects

2. Test Development & Automation

Design and implement functional test systems (electrical, mechanical, system-level validation)
Develop automated test scripts and sequences using Python or similar languages
Integrate test equipment (DAQs, sensors, vision systems, robotics interfaces, etc.)
Build diagnostic tools to quickly isolate failures and reduce debug time
Enable data logging, traceability, and test result analytics

3. Work Order & Manufacturing Execution Integration

Configure and manage work orders and test flows within MES or manufacturing systems
Define test steps, pass/fail criteria, and routing logic across stations
Ensure traceability of test results to serial numbers, components, and build configurations
Partner with manufacturing teams to optimize throughput and minimize test time

4. Product & Manufacturing Line Bring-Up

Lead test bring-up for new products during EVT/DVT/PVT builds
Support factory ramp by deploying and validating test stations on production lines
Debug early build issues and rapidly iterate on test coverage and methods
Train operators and technicians on test processes and troubleshooting

5. Diagnostics & Failure Analysis

Develop structured diagnostic workflows to identify root causes of failures
Partner with hardware, firmware, and quality teams on root cause analysis (RCA)
Differentiate between design issues, supplier defects, and manufacturing errors
Implement containment actions and feed improvements back into test and design

6. Reliability & Sustaining Test

Design and execute ongoing reliability and stress testing (burn-in, environmental, lifecycle)
Monitor failure trends and adjust test strategies to catch emerging issues
Ensure alignment between validation testing and production test coverage

7. Test Coverage & Continuous Improvement

Define and track test coverage metrics and escape rates
Continuously improve test effectiveness to reduce field failures and returns
Optimize test time, cost, and efficiency without compromising quality
Drive improvements in first pass yield (FPY) through better detection and diagnostics

8. Data, Automation & Scaling

Build systems for automated data collection, analysis, and reporting
Leverage scripting and software tools to streamline test development and execution
Implement scalable solutions that support multi-line, multi-site manufacturing
Utilize advanced tools (including AI Agents/ML where applicable) for:
- Anomaly detection
- Failure classification
- Predictive insights on test and field data

Key Requirements:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
5+ years of experience in manufacturing test, hardware validation, or production engineering
Experience supporting NPI builds (EVT/DVT/PVT) and scaling production ramp

Strong experience with automated test development and scripting (Python preferred)
Hands-on experience with test equipment (oscilloscopes, DAQs, power supplies, sensors, etc.)
Familiarity with MES systems, work order configuration, and manufacturing workflows
Experience with hardware-software integration and embedded systems testing
Knowledge of diagnostics, failure analysis, and reliability testing methodologies
Experience with data analysis tools (Python, SQL, or similar)
Willing to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%

Preferred Experience:

Robotics, autonomous systems, or complex electromechanical products
High-volume manufacturing and contract manufacturer environments
Vision systems, calibration processes, or system-level testing
HIL/SIL testing frameworks

Problem-Solving Mindset: Ability to manage and resolve complex challenges with little to no established playbooks, using creative and proven strategic thinking to drive solutions.
Risk Management: Proven track record of identifying, managing, and mitigating risks in large, complex programs.
Adaptability: Comfortable with ambiguity and able to thrive in a fast-moving, constantly evolving environment.

What Success Looks Like:

High test coverage with minimal field escapes
Efficient, scalable test systems that support rapid production ramp
Fast and accurate failure detection and diagnosis
Improved yield and reduced rework through better test and diagnostics
Strong alignment between design validation and manufacturing test

Operating Style:

Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly analytical
Strong problem solver with a bias toward root cause and data-driven decisions
Comfortable working on the factory floor and in the lab
Thrives in fast-paced environments with evolving products and processes

If you thrive in dynamic environments, love solving complex challenges, and want to make an impact with cutting-edge technology, we'd love to hear from you!

Day in the life - Manufacturing Test Engineer

Morning: Data Review & Production Pulse Check

You start by checking what happened overnight or on the previous shift:

First Pass Yield (FPY) by station
Top failure modes and pareto trends
Test station uptime and bottlenecks
Any line stops or escalations

If a failure spikes-say a communication test or sensor calibration-you flag it immediately.

Then you join a quick stand-up with manufacturing, quality, and engineering:

What's breaking on the line right now?
Are failures real (product) or false (test issues)?
What needs immediate containment vs. deeper investigation?

You leave with a clear priority: keep the line running, but don't let bad units escape.

Mid-Morning: On-the-Line Debugging

You're on the manufacturing floor (or remote into stations), working side-by-side with technicians.

Typical scenarios:

A unit is failing functional test intermittently you hook into logs, probe signals, and check if it's hardware, firmware, or test script timing
A station is slowing throughput you optimize sequence timing or parallelize steps
A new build variant isn't flowing correctly you adjust work order/test routing in MES

You're constantly asking:

Is this a real defect or a test artifact?
If it's real, is it design, component, or process-related?
How do we contain it now and detect it earlier next time?

Midday: Test Development & Iteration

Back at your desk or lab bench, you shift into build mode.

You might be:

Writing Python scripts to automate a new functional test
Adding diagnostics to isolate failures faster (better logging, error codes, signal capture)
Integrating new hardware into the test system (DAQs, sensors, fixtures)
Expanding test coverage to catch a recently discovered issue

This is where you improve the system so the same issue doesn't keep showing up on the line.

Early Afternoon: Bring-Up & New Product Support

If you're in EVT/DVT/PVT or launching a new product, this block is intense.

You're:

Bringing up new test stations for a prototype or pilot build
Debugging early design issues exposed during testing
Defining pass/fail limits where none existed before
Rapidly iterating test sequences as the product evolves

Expect ambiguity-things aren't fully defined yet, and you're helping shape both the test strategy and the product quality bar.

Mid-Afternoon: Failure Analysis & Cross-Functional Work

You sit down with hardware, firmware, and quality engineers to go deeper on key issues:

Reviewing failure logs and waveform captures
Reproducing issues in the lab
Running experiments to isolate root cause

You help answer:

Did test catch this early enough?
Should this be moved upstream (design validation vs. production test)?
What additional coverage is needed to prevent escapes?

This is where you connect test design manufacturing field performance.

Late Afternoon: Systems, Scaling & Optimization

Now you zoom out and improve the broader system:

Updating MES flows (test steps, routing, traceability)
Refining test limits to reduce false failures without letting defects pass
Improving test time to increase throughput
Building dashboards for test data visibility

You may also work on:

Reliability testing setups (burn-in, stress tests)
Automation to reduce manual intervention
Smarter failure classification (rule-based or AI-assisted)

End of Day: Wrap-Up & Prioritization

Before signing off, you:

Check if critical line issues are contained
Ensure test changes are deployed and documented
Align with the next shift or offshore teams
Set priorities for the next day (new tests, top failures, line risks)

What Makes the Role Unique

You are the gatekeeper between manufacturing and the field
You constantly balance coverage vs. speed vs. cost
You touch everything: hardware, software, fixtures, data systems, and operations
Your work directly impacts yield, reliability, and customer experience

In One Sentence

You spend your day building and refining the systems that catch problems early, diagnose them quickly, and keep production moving without compromising quality.

Our roles are often flexible. If you don't fit all the criteria, or are in another location (especially one where we have an office like SF or NY) please apply anyway! We'd love to consider you.

About the Company

Bedrock Robotics

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