THE COMPANY:
PAX Labs is an award-winning, consumer technology brand that supports responsible, adult use. Our products represent the gold standard in product quality and we aim to move the space beyond unfortunate stereotypes of cannabis users. Most of all, we want to be good stewards for a product and movement that enhances many people's lives.
Headquartered in San Francisco, PAX is backed by leading technology investors including Tiger Global and Tao Invest (Pritzker family fund). We are an exceptional team with hardware and software backgrounds in consumer technology, healthcare, and biotech, and are growing rapidly to deliver on our mission. Our internal culture values diversity, integrity, having an impact, and passion for the larger movement that PAX is a part of.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting directly to the VP Hardware, PAX is looking for a Director, Automation Engineering to build and lead the group of engineers responsible for specifying, designing, building, and testing/validating our customized extract filling machines and supporting equipment. This person should be an equipment and machinery expert, and has specific expertise in automation, robotics, and manufacturing equipment.
- Own the design and engineering of PAX's business-critical filling machine product line - be the ultimate owner for delivery of the production equipment.
- Drive automation and robotic assembly techniques to reduce cost, improve capacity and quality, at a cost that has a strong ROI
- Coach and mentor the team with best practices, rigorous engineering process and best practices including simulation, machine design, system validation testing, etc.
- Write and own machine specifications; collaborate closely with the team that designs, tests, and manufactures the ERA Pods
- Work closely with Product Management and Partner Operations to understand the needs of the customer and design cost effective solutions that fulfill those needs.
- Support audits and feedback on existing machines deployed in the field to inform future needs
- Determine organizational needs, hire and build a world class team of automation and equipment experts to support worldwide deployment of the equipment.
- Design equipment as an experience that fits with the high design quality bar that is PAX's brand and is part of a best-in-class ecosystem
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum 5 years experience in Automation and Machine Design, having deployed machines to production environments
- 2 years people management and team building experience preferred
- Must be a strong, self-motivated individual that can work with minimal day to day supervision and able to objectively rank and prioritize development work for themselves and their team.
- Excellent communicator, verbal and written, with fluency in English
- International and domestic travel is expected (~15%)
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL:
- Have personally, or as a team, gone through the full design and qualification of production-grade manufacturing equipment, ideally producing equipment that deals with controlled liquid dispensing of a wide variety of viscosities and temperature control.
- Be highly goal and detail oriented, can personally understand the needs of the production environment, and have a proven track record of building and deploying reliable and stable equipment.
- Dislike inefficiencies and strive to balance equipment cost/ROI with the most efficient production process; UPH is your middle name.
- Understand food-grade or medical-grade materials and processes, and know how to balance maintenance schedules with machine up-time.
- Have a network of trusted fabrication and equipment vendors that you can bring to the table, but can also establish new relationships and qualify new vendors.
- Develop solutions with safety certifications such as UL, CE, etc. and OSHA best practices in mind.
- Utilize modern tools and systems to quickly prototype and prove concepts, incorporate advanced technology such as vision systems into the equipment
- Developed solutions that can be deployed to diverse environments that are not necessarily well-controlled factory environments and be operated by workers that are not necessarily skilled labor
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics, related fields, or equivalent work experience; Masters preferred.
PAX LABS PERKS & BENEFITS:
- A place to grow your career. We'll help you set big goals - and exceed them
- People. Work with talented, committed and supportive teammates
- Equity and performance bonuses. Every employee is a stakeholder in our success
- Cell phone subsidy, wellness reimbursement, commuter benefits and discounts on PAX products
- Excellent medical, dental and vision benefits
- Location. Work in the heart of San Francisco