Factory Deployed Engineer
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Role Details
Location: Detroit, Michigan (in-office)
Industry: Manufacturing
Salary: $120,000–$200,000
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Arrangement: In-office
Experience: Approximately 2–5 years; flexible based on relevant hands-on experience
Visa Sponsorship: Not available
Work Authorization: US citizens or Green Card holders only
About the Company
An early-stage, AI-powered manufacturing company building vertically integrated metals factories to modernize American industrial production.
The business combines software, automation, and factory operations to deliver cut-to-size metals with fast turnaround and instant online quoting. Its proprietary software uses machine learning to optimize material cutting, inventory, and production workflows.
The company has already built a growing customer base and is scaling its factory operations, with plans to expand its engineering team and open an additional location.
About the Role
The Factory Deployed Engineer is a hands-on generalist who combines software and hardware to solve real-world manufacturing problems.
This is not a traditional software engineering role focused solely on writing code. The person will identify, build, and deploy systems that make factory operations more efficient, taking ownership of projects from concept through implementation.
The role requires strong judgment, adaptability, and the ability to prioritize meaningful outcomes as the company's roadmap and operational needs evolve.
Responsibilities
Own factory-facing projects end to end, combining software and hardware to deliver practical solutions.
Build and improve systems for quoting, production scheduling, shop-floor automation, and operational data.
Identify opportunities to optimize factory workflows and improve operational performance.
Make independent decisions about what to build, prioritize, or deprioritize as business needs change.
Deliver measurable improvements in revenue, production speed, retention, and factory efficiency.
Requirements
Experience building systems or products that interact with the physical world and involve real-world manufacturing constraints.
Strong generalist capable of finding solutions across software and hardware.
Experience owning complete systems or projects rather than isolated technical components.
High agency, strong independent judgment, and an outcome-oriented mindset.
Ability to execute without extensive direction or hand-holding.
AI-native approach, making effective use of modern AI tools.
Team-first attitude, openness to criticism, and strong collaboration skills.
Experience in zero-to-one environments, small teams, or scaling products.
Relevant backgrounds include:
Manufacturing and industrial technology.
Hardware and robotics engineering.
Factory automation and operational software.
Formula SAE, rocketry teams, or DARPA challenges.
Early-stage or scaling hardware and manufacturing companies.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Interview Process
Product Manager Interview – Initial conversation with the Product Manager.
Technical Interview / Code Test – First-round technical assessment with an engineer; this is a key evaluation stage.
Founder Interview – Scenario-based interview focused on judgment, values, ownership, and overall fit.
On-site Interview – Visit the Detroit factory, meet the team, and assess mutual fit.
Offer and Hire.
🌍 Remote from anywhere in the globe
Workplace, Culture & Diversity
Corporate culture is essential to allow the organization to differentiate itself. In terms of image on the one hand, it has strengths both internally and externally to consumers. It is indeed a source of cohesion and motivation of employees and it limits conflicts. With customers, it conveys a positive image and can develop a feeling of closeness to the company or even become a criterion of choice.
About Fractal Talent
We Are Fractal Talent, a global community of freelance and fractional recruiters. We provide recruiting expertise to our clients as a virtual extension of their teams, deployed on an embedded, project or per role basis, and matched to client need. Top tier quality, unrivalled flexibility.
If you're a recruiter, come join a community that acts as your outsourced sales function. We align your skills to our clients - with the aim to enrich quality recruiters and enable a far greater flexibility in how you manage your career.