Job Details

Location

San Leandro, CA

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

Delivery

Compensation

• $153K – $218K • Offers Equity

About Pacific Fusion

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.

We are rapidly designing and building a pulsed magnetic fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems.

Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from incredible investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders.

About the Role

Job Overview:

The Automation Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for evaluating current manual processes, identifying automation opportunities, designing and implementing robust solutions, and supporting the transition from manual to semi- or fully-automated manufacturing. This role is ideal for someone with strong factory-floor instincts, who understands how to build automation in the real world—not just on paper—and who thrives in a fast-moving, build-focused environment. In this role your work will optimize processes and enable production employees, engineers and scientists across the organization as they bring our demonstration system online.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze current manufacturing processes to identify automation opportunities that reduce labor and increase throughput, consistency, and yield.
• Design, implement, and validate scalable automation solutions including fixturing, electromechanical equipment, vision systems, PLCs, and robotic cells.
• Collaborate with design engineering to influence product DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacturability/Automation) to ease automation integration.
• Specify, source, and deploy off-the-shelf or custom automation equipment including conveyors, actuators, robotics, inspection stations, and tooling.
• Own automation projects from concept through commissioning: requirements gathering, vendor selection, integration, installation, debug, and ramp.
• Write and maintain documentation for equipment setup, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Support process development and initial production, with a focus on root cause analysis and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with area managers, manufacturing technicians, mechanical engineers, and quality to ensure equipment performance aligns with production goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or related equivalent experience in this field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or automation in a high-mix, low- to medium-volume production environment.
• Hands-on experience developing and integrating automation equipment, including mechanical and control systems (pneumatics, motion control, sensors).
• Experience with robotic arms (e.g., UR, Fanuc, ABB), end-of-arm tooling, and collaborative automation. Strong CAD proficiency (e.g., PTC Creo) and ability to design tooling and fixturing.
• Demonstrated capability with PLCs, industrial communication protocols, and control systems (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, etc.).
• Solid understanding of process validation, process capability, and yield improvement methodologies and dashboard reporting showing system health.
• Track record of implementing automation projects that measurably improved labor efficiency and quality.
• Experience managing external automation integrators or machine builders.
• Comfortable operating in an evolving, ambiguous, and cross-functional startup environment.

Preferred but not required:

• Background in electromechanical product assembly or electronics manufacturing.
• Proficiency with Twincat, Python or similar scripting languages for automation/data acquisition.
• Familiarity with MES, SCADA, or factory data collection tools.

Benefits:

• Industry-competitive salary
• Equity plan
• 6% employer 401k matching
• Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Compensation Range: $153K - $218K

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