About the Role

We’re looking for a Director of Manufacturing to build and scale the production engine that takes Copper from early manufacturing runs to reliable, multi-site, global production. You’ll own end-to-end manufacturing execution, from NPI through mass production, and build the systems, teams, and supplier ecosystem that enable Copper to ship high-volume, high-reliability hardware at scale.

This is a hands-on, builder role in a critical moment of company growth. You’ll partner closely with Hardware Engineering, Reliability, Product, Supply Chain, Finance, and Customer Operations, and externally with domestic and overseas contract manufacturers, suppliers, test labs, and certification organizations. You’ll help shape Copper’s manufacturing architecture, improve quality and yield, reduce cost, and ensure we can meet the needs of a rapidly expanding customer and OEM pipeline. This role reports to the COO.

We value diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We’re especially focused on fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can contribute to our shared mission.

This is a full-time position expected to be in-office 4 days per week with 1 day flexible for in-office or remote work, with domestic and international travel as needed. Our office is located in Berkeley, CA.

What You’ll Do

Scale Copper’s Manufacturing Engine

• Own the transition from early production to high-volume, multi-site manufacturing across domestic and international partners.
• Build repeatable, robust production processes, test systems, fixtures, and line operations that improve throughput, yield, and reliability.
• Drive readiness for new manufacturing sites and support vendor onboarding, qualification, and ramp.
• Lead manufacturing planning, capacity modeling, production forecasting, and alignment with Installation and Commercial.

Build a Reliable, Cost-Effective Global Supply Chain

• Work with the Global Supply Chain Manager to develop sourcing strategies, implement cost-down and value-engineering initiatives, and establish long-term supplier relationships.
• Co-own supplier performance, delivery, risk mitigation, and multi-year planning.
• Ensure continuity of supply across geographies, including long-lead and critical components.

Own Quality, Safety, and Reliability Across All Products

• Lead Copper’s quality management efforts across manufacturing and suppliers.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement loops with hardware, reliability, and factory teams.
• Ensure Copper products meet all regulatory, reliability, and safety requirements.

Collaborate Cross-Functionally to Ensure Scalable Execution

• Work closely with Hardware Engineering on DFM, build readiness, and design changes that improve manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
• Partner with Product, Finance, and the COO on production planning, prioritization, and long-term operational strategy.
• Provide clear, real-time visibility into capacity, risks, yields, and material availability.

Lead and Develop the Manufacturing & Supply Chain Organization

• Hire and grow teams across Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain as the company scales.
• Build the systems, operating cadence, and culture required for high accountability, strong execution, and cross-team alignment.
• Model calm, steady leadership through inevitable manufacturing challenges and ambiguity.

What You’ll Bring

Proven Scale-Builder for Complex Electromechanical Products

• Experience taking a hardware product from early runs into high-volume production.
• Demonstrated ownership of NPI-to-MP transitions, DFM, vendor ramp, throughput and yield improvement, test engineering, and line design.
• Comfort owning both strategy and hands-on execution during ramp.

Experience Managing Overseas & Multi-Site Production

• Direct experience with Asia-based or international contract manufacturers and multi-site production environments.
• Strong supplier management skills: negotiation, cost optimization, escalation, relationship-building.
• Ability to navigate cultural and operational differences with emotional intelligence and clarity.

Exceptional Operations Leader & People Manager

• 5+ years experience leading senior engineers and operations talent.
• Ability to create clarity during periods of change, establish effective operating rhythms, and drive consistent execution.
• Skill in coaching individuals and elevating team performance while maintaining trust.

Deep Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain Expertise

• 10+ years running manufacturing and supply chain departments
• Fluency in electromechanical manufacturing (electronics, power systems, plastics, metalwork, thermal systems).
• Expertise in test development, fixtures, process control, lean principles, failure analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Understanding of supply chain planning, inventory management, S&OP, and VAVE.

Systems Thinker With Strong Operational Judgment

• Ability to zoom out to architecture-level decisions while diving deep into specific bottlenecks.
• Strong judgment under pressure; calm, grounded operator who surfaces risks early and drives toward solutions.
• Builder’s mindset with a bias toward execution and comfort creating structure in ambiguous environments.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $190k-$220k per year. We are committed to equitable compensation, and offer a generous benefits package to make sure you have the support you need. We cover 100% of the premiums for our employees and 50% of the premiums for their dependents on our base plans for medical, dental, and vision insurance. We offer a 401(k) plan for employees to contribute to, in addition to many other benefits. Every employee, regardless of gender identity or expression, is eligible for 16 weeks of paid parental leave after three months of employment (eight weeks through Copper and eight weeks CA Paid Family Leave).

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees and are seeking to build a team that reflects the diversity of the people we hope to serve with our products. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

About Us

Copper's vision is a future where every home is electrified with abundant clean energy. Our mission is to make decarbonization accessible to everyone by selling electric home appliances that enrich their daily lives. We're reducing the cost of electrification by integrating batteries into household appliances, starting with the stove. Our work has been funded by the Department of Energy, in an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase energy resilience with products that are high-performance, safe, intuitive, and robust. As we build our team and pursue our mission, we do it with a strong sense of our core values because it's not just what you do, it's how you do it. You'll see this in high-level decisions, how we run meetings, our day-to-day work, hiring, and our interactions with customers and the broader community. We intend to have a massive impact on our team, our neighborhood, and the world.