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Can you build a 3D printer from scratch?
Not the software. Not the assembly. The whole thing from a blank sheet of paper, to a machine that runs.
We are not hiring for a roadmap, we are hiring for a result. For this role, success will be measured by the outcomes you drive and how effectively things run, not by how many meetings you attend.
About Forge Labs
We are a deep-tech, AI-native clothing manufacturing startup building automated machines and systems that have never existed before. We work at the intersection of engineering and artisans; taking processes that are done by hand today and reimagining them as integrated, intelligent machines.
Our team is small, moves fast and has zero tolerance for "let's revisit this next quarter." If you've ever looked at a factory floor and thought "I could design this entire thing better"; we want to talk!
The mission
You will be the founding engineer on a complex, multi-system automated machine. The machine involves multiple sequential operations, precision material handling and tight mechanical coordination across subsystems, all running as one integrated unit.
Your job: take the concept from paper to a fully functional prototype in 6-8 months. You own the architecture, the build, the iteration and the outcome.
What you'll own
- Full end-to-end engineering of a multi-subsystem automated machine: mechanical, electrical and firmware
- Translating a product vision into an engineering architecture, BOM and build plan within the first few weeks
- Designing and integrating material handling, actuation and sequencing subsystems that work in sync
- Rapid prototyping (cut, test, break, fix, repeat) with a clear eye on the milestone
- Component and vendor selection: motors, sensors, drives, frames, control boards: you decide!
- All technical documentation so the system can survive beyond you
What we're looking for
- 4+ years of hands-on experience building real machines or mechatronic systems; not just designing them
- Proven ability to take a machine from concept to working prototype; with something physical to show for it
- Full-stack hardware fluency: CAD → fabrication → wiring → embedded control → system tuning
- Strong experience with multi-axis motion, sequential process control and electromechanical integration.
- Comfortable working without a detailed spec, you can write the spec yourself.
- Thrives under timeline pressure and takes personal ownership of outcomes, not just tasks
- First-principles thinker, you question the design before you start building it
Domain knowledge that gives you a serious edge
The machine operates in the context of textile /garment production. If you have hands-on experience in this domain, you are a strong candidate, this knowledge will directly shape how fast we can move.
- Garment / apparel manufacturing
- Textile machinery or automation
- Fabric handling systems
- Industrial automation / PLC
- Machine vision / sensing
- PID & motion control
- Rapid prototyping (FDM, laser)
- FMCG or process manufacturing
Show us your work...
We evaluate every candidate on what they've actually built. Submit your previous projects alongside your application: videos, photos, write-ups, repos, teardowns, anything real.
Applications without previous work will not be reviewed. There are no exceptions to this.
Hiring process
Step 1: Application + past projects
Step 2: First round call
Step 3: Case study
Step 4: Final round
Step 5: Offer
Hiring Process Duration: 14 business days.
We don't hire people who wait for permission to start. If reading this JD already has you sketching subsystem ideas in your head, that's the instinct we're looking for. Apply and bring your ideas with you.
Click on Apply to know more.