Machine Shop Manager

The role

The Machine Shop Manager will lead the day-to-day operation of an in-house machining shop in San Jose. This hands-on leadership role involves managing machinists, executing R&D and production schedules, and owning floor safety and dust control.

What you will do

• Hire, onboard, train, and manage material handlers, manual and CNC machinists and operators
• Execute the released machining schedule
• Own work order execution, setups, and inspections
• Execute the shop's dust-control program
• Lead safety through LOTO and risk assessments
• Perform and enforce operator-level preventive maintenance
• Execute released work instructions and control plans
• Own operational cost levers including tool life, consumable usage, and scrap
• Provide operator-side requirements for shop layout and equipment selection
• Provide regular status on throughput, yield, cost, safety, and risks

Required qualifications

• 6+ years hands-on in machining, fabrication, or panel processing
• 3+ years supervising or managing a production machining team or cell
• Hands-on competence on CNC router/saw/sander-class equipment and/or CNC mills
• Ability to set up, run, and troubleshoot, including CAM programming and fixturing
• Experience machining abrasive, dust-generating non-metallic materials
• Experience working under a formal dust-control and housekeeping program
• Reads drawings with GD&T
• Competent with dimensional inspection tools and in-process inspection
• Has owned operational metrics (OEE, scrap, tool life, schedule attainment)
• Clear communicator with engineers, technicians, vendors, and leadership
• Willing to be onsite full time in San Jose, CA
• Willing to be hands-on on the shop floor in dusty and PPE-required environments

Nice to have

• Direct carbon/graphite machining experience
• Background at a graphite/carbon products manufacturer, composite fabricator, or precision non-metallic machine shop
• Experience with CNC panel saws, wide-belt sanders, or wire saws
• Participated in a new cell or line startup or in equipment commissioning
• Has authored or maintained work instructions, control plans, or PM checklists
• Lean manufacturing / continuous improvement; 5S
• Experience in a startup or fast-scaling hardware manufacturing environment
• Routine use of AI tools to accelerate CAM, fixture design, documentation, scheduling, and analysis
• Exposure to thermal energy storage or adjacent energy technologies

Benefits

• Equity compensation in the form of stock options
• Premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance
• 401K plan with employer contributions
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid-time-off policy featuring flexible and inclusive holiday observance
• Paid volunteer time off

About the company

Antora Energy delivers affordable, reliable energy to industry, data centers, and the grid using thermal batteries. The company is dedicated to a future powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.