Principal Mechanical Engineer – Systems & Manufacturing
Location: DUMBO, NYC (On-Site)
Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $170k–$190k + meaningful equity + benefits
About The Renatural
The Renatural is a venture-backed, NYC-based beauty hardware company pioneering a new category in wig and hair manufacturing.
We have developed a patented, CNC-based robotic system that automates the most complex parts of wig-making—compressing a three-week process into under an hour while achieving unprecedented realism, comfort, and durability. Over the last year, we’ve filed multiple additional patents across hardware, materials, and manufacturing processes.
We are now transitioning from breakthrough R&D into stable, scalable production. This is a rare opportunity to shape the internal engineering foundation of a category-defining company at the moment when architecture, standards, and decisions matter most.
The Role
As Principal Mechanical Engineer – Systems & Manufacturing, you will act as a technical thought partner to the CEO, owning mechanical and process architecture across our proprietary manufacturing system. You will help translate an already-working machine into a repeatable, maintainable, defensible production platform.
You’ll operate at two levels simultaneously:
- High-level systems thinking: architecture, tradeoffs, failure modes, scalability, and IP protection
- Hands-on execution: CAD, prototyping, fabrication, iteration, and real-world debugging on the factory floor
You will have significant autonomy over technical decisions and will play a key role in reducing reliance on external agencies by bringing deep mechanical judgment in-house.
This role reports directly to the CEO.
What You’ll Own
System Architecture & Technical Judgment
- Co-own the mechanical and process architecture of our proprietary manufacturing system.
- Evaluate tradeoffs between precision, throughput, serviceability, cost, and long-term scalability.
- Establish design principles that guide future machine iterations, variants, and upgrades.
- Make decisions with IP defensibility, reverse-engineering risk, and internal control in mind.
End-to-End Process Design
- Map and refine the full production workflow—from raw hair handling through robotic injection, sealing, finishing, and QC.
- Architect systems that are modular, repeatable, and resilient under real production conditions.
- Design processes that support consistent, luxury-grade outcomes at scale.
Hands-On Mechanical Design & Iteration
- Create and own detailed CAD models, assemblies, and tolerances.
- Build, test, and iterate prototypes directly on the production line.
- Fabricate, assemble, and troubleshoot mechanisms from scratch when needed.
- Translate conceptual ideas into real, working hardware quickly and thoughtfully.
Machine Optimization & Reliability
- Diagnose and improve machine performance across mechanics, motion systems, tooling, and material integration.
- Design for failure modes, wear, maintenance cycles, and long-term drift—not just initial performance.
- Improve throughput and consistency without compromising realism or material integrity.
Technical Standards & Documentation
- Define engineering standards across hair handling, ventilation/injection, sealing, and finishing.
- Translate tacit knowledge into clear SOPs, documentation, and training materials.
- Help move the system from founder-dependent to institutionally reliable.
External Partner Oversight
- Serve as the primary technical counterpart to external consultants and vendors (mechanical, materials, automation).
- Evaluate external work critically, ensure alignment with internal standards, and reduce long-term dependency.
- Translate between high-level intent and technical execution across teams.
Materials & Future-Proofing
- Scout and test new materials, adhesives, coatings, and mechanical solutions that improve realism, comfort, and durability.
- Collaborate with materials experts to move experimental concepts into manufacturable systems.
- Anticipate future production needs and design with expansion in mind.
What Success Looks Like (12–18 Months)
- Core machine architecture is stable, documented, and internally owned.
- Failure modes, tolerances, and maintenance cycles are well understood and predictable.
- Production consistency and throughput improve without increasing operational fragility.
- Engineering decisions feel calmer, faster, and more intentional across the company.
- The system is no longer dependent on external agencies for day-to-day progress.
Who You Are
Experience & Background
- 7+ years in mechanical design, systems engineering, or process engineering.
- Experience in precision hardware environments such as robotics, CNC systems & G-Code, medical devices, aerospace, industrial automation, or wearables.
- Proven exposure to proprietary, patent-sensitive systems.
Technical Depth
- Expert in CAD (SolidWorks preferred), tolerancing, and mechanical assemblies.
- Deep experience with CNC-based systems, multi-axis motion, tooling, and real-world G-code behavior under load and material variation.
- Comfortable designing for manufacturability, serviceability, and scale—not just prototypes.
Mindset & Working Style
- Systems thinker who can zoom out to architecture and zoom in to details.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and shaping clarity where none exists.
- Willing to respectfully challenge assumptions and articulate tradeoffs.
- High ownership, low ego, deeply hands-on.
- Excited to work on the factory floor, not just at a desk.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent real-world experience.
Why Join The Renatural
- Own foundational engineering decisions in a category-defining hardware company.
- Work directly with the founder on high-impact technical strategy.
- Build technology that blends precision engineering with cultural and human relevance.
- Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and full health & commuter benefits.
- Based in our DUMBO, Brooklyn production space.