Skip is on a mission to make life joyful through powered movement.

Movement is a powerful way to build physical, mental and social health. Yet it is elusive for 2 billion people due to age, injury, or disability. We are building products that will restore mobility for millions and enable a new frontier of joyful movement experiences. We want to build a future where a grandparent can easily outrun their grandkids and no one is left behind at the trailhead.

Skip is a 22-person early-stage start-up that spun out of Google X in 2023. With deep cross-disciplinary expertise and key partnerships (e.g. with Arc’teryx) we are uniquely positioned to launch the first commercially successful wearable robotic device, the MO/GO, develop a platform to launch future Movewear products and transform millions of lives in the coming years.

The Role

As our NPI Manufacturing Engineer, you will be the critical link between our product vision and the factories bringing it to life. You will own the processes, documentation, and relationships that take our wearable robotic devices from engineering prototype to manufacturable product, at scale, with our overseas manufacturing partners.

This is an IC role on a flat team of exceptional engineers where everyone contributes directly. You will operate with high autonomy, build manufacturing infrastructure from scratch, and spend meaningful time on-site at our manufacturing partners in Asia. You will be embedded in the full product lifecycle, from concept through NPI and into production ramp, and will be a key voice in how Skip builds at scale.

What You'll Do

• Own and drive NPI activities with our overseas contract manufacturers — including DFM/DFA reviews, process development, tooling qualification, and production readiness — ensuring our products transition smoothly from engineering to volume manufacturing.

• Serve as the primary manufacturing liaison with our overseas partners, including regular on-site visits to develop processes, qualify tooling, and build strong working relationships with factory engineering teams.

• Lead first article inspection (FAI) and pilot builds: define control plans, develop inspection criteria, write work instructions and assembly documentation, and drive closure of open issues before ramp.

• Define and manage manufacturing process specifications, assembly sequences, and tooling requirements across mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical assemblies.

• Investigate and drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action for manufacturing escapes and process failures during NPI and early ramp — closing loops quickly and permanently.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, and Operations teams to translate product designs into manufacturable, scalable processes.

• Partner with the supply chain team to qualify components and materials, review supplier capabilities, and support make-vs-buy decisions during NPI.

• Support reliability and durability testing to validate that manufacturing processes produce products that meet performance requirements under real-world use conditions.

• Wear prototypes several hours a week to participate in on-body testing and provide hands-on feedback from the user perspective.

• Bring joy to the team, participate in embarrassing team events, and tolerate KZ's terrible music choices.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in NPI or manufacturing engineering, preferably in consumer electronics, robotics, medical devices, or powered consumer products.

• Hands-on experience with overseas (Asia-based) manufacturing partners — comfortable navigating NPI, tooling qualification, and production ramp with factories in China, Taiwan, or similar regions.

• Strong command of NPI tools and methodologies: DFM/DFA, PFMEA, control plans, PPAP/FAI, process capability analysis, and build readiness reviews.

• Experience writing and managing work instructions, assembly documentation, and process specifications for electromechanical assemblies.

• Solid understanding of mechanical manufacturing processes (injection molding, CNC machining, casting, sheet metal, composites) and their design and process implications.

• Experience with GD&T and dimensional inspection techniques (CMM, optical comparators, hand gauging).

• Ability and willingness to travel to Asia regularly (estimate 20-30% travel).

• Able to deliver results independently in a fast-paced, early-stage environment where the playbook is still being written.

• Ability to relocate to or already based in the Bay Area.

Nice to Have

• Experience with wearable devices, powered exoskeletons, robotics, or electromechanical consumer products.

• Familiarity with IPC standards, UL/CE certification, or medical device manufacturing frameworks (ISO 13485).

• Experience standing up manufacturing processes from scratch at an early-stage company.

• Mandarin language skills — always a plus when working directly with factory teams.

• Personal motivation to improve human movement and make the world more accessible.

• Sense of humour; tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling.

Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.

Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates’ ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States.