Manufacturing and Quality Engineer

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 20-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 Manufacturing Quality Engineer, you will be the critical link between our product vision and the factories bringing it to life. You will own quality systems, processes, and relationships that ensure our wearable robotic devices are built to spec — consistently and at scale — at 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 quality 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 NPI through ramp and into production — and will be a key voice in how Skip builds at scale.

What You'll Do Own and drive quality systems for overseas contract manufacturers — including incoming inspection, in-process controls, final acceptance testing, and outgoing quality — ensuring our products are built right, every time. Serve as the primary quality liaison with our overseas manufacturing partners, including regular on-site visits to audit processes, resolve escapes, and build strong working relationships with factory quality teams.

• Lead NPI quality activities: review DFM/DFA outputs, define control plans, develop inspection criteria, write work instructions and assembly documentation, and support first article inspection (FAI).
• Define and manage product quality specifications, acceptance criteria, and inspection sampling plans across mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Investigate and drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) for production escapes, customer returns, and field issues — closing loops quickly and permanently.
• Build and maintain the quality management system (QMS) infrastructure: NCR tracking, CAPA records, supplier scorecards, and audit programs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, and Operations teams to translate product requirements into measurable quality standards and test protocols.
• Support reliability and durability testing to validate that products meet performance requirements under real-world use conditions.

Wear prototypes several hours a week to participate in on-body testing and provide hands-on quality 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 Required 5+ years of experience in manufacturing quality engineering, preferably in consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, or powered consumer products.

Hands-on experience with overseas (Asia-based) manufacturing partners — comfortable navigating NPI, ramp, and production quality with factories in China, Taiwan, or similar regions. Strong command of quality tools and methodologies: FMEA, control plans, SPC, PPAP/FAI, MSA, 8D, and CAPA.

Experience writing and managing inspection criteria, work instructions, and quality documentation for electromechanical assemblies.:

Solid understanding of mechanical manufacturing processes (injection molding, CNC machining, casting, sheet metal, composites) and their quality 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 quality frameworks (ISO 13485, FDA QSR).

Experience standing up a QMS 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.