Senior Mechanical Engineer

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Salary:

$140k-$180k + Equity

About Framework

Framework is building fully automated apparel manufacturing facilities in the United States. Using software and robotics, we aim to match then beat Asian production costs while slashing lead‑times and inventory holding costs for apparel brands.

Once‑in‑a‑career build — we’re designing the first truly software‑defined apparel factory in the United States. Expect green‑field ownership, a factory floor as your living lab, and permission to invent new patterns.

Long‑run stability without big‑co bureaucracy — Backed by tier 1 investors, we’re funded with years of runway and have brand partners lined up.

Why Build it Now? It all comes down to Cost Physics, which we wrote about here. The four forces of manufacturing—raw materials, energy, CapEx, and labor—have hit a once in a generation crossover point:

Machine intelligence + dexterity has collapsed labor to <10% of a garment’s cost at scale
America has abundant cotton and energy, we’re the largest exporter of cotton on earth with the lowest average industrial energy cost in the world
Supply‑chain risk and inventory waste have inverted the Asian production advantages: months‑long lead‑times and tariff exposure are now more expensive than automated local production

Put together, these shifts create a window to do what was “impossible” for the last 50 years—manufacture apparel in the U.S. and win on cost. We’re seizing that window; if this sounds like your kind of once‑in‑a‑generation build, let’s talk.

The Opportunity

You'll help build the first generation of automated cells and lines that power Framework's factory. Work side-by-side with Manufacturing Engineers and Robotics Engineers to turn process flows and paper layouts into running automation on the floor.
This is a founding team role requiring startup flexibility—you'll tackle diverse integration challenges across the entire factory system as we scale from prototype to production.

Experience

5+ years CAD and Manufacturing experience
Design/test/build for custom and manufacturing environments; ability to adapt and iterate on live lines for high mix production floors
Rapid prototyping for low fidelity hands-on testing, to iterative CAD/CAM flow with suppliers; DFM experience to get new designs procured and operating in-house
Technician or Mechanical Engineering background with demonstrable hardware projects and manufacturing wins, evolving into systems engineering and factory planning
Scaled operations from prototype to full production; roadmap for integrations and planning/procuring BOM

Technical Skills

3+ years experience with hands-on prototyping in same-day custom build environments; CAD/CAM tools which produced physical and long-lasting results
Comfortable with many material formats, tools, and techniques: sheet, wire, tube, wood, plastics, composites, metals
CAD/CAM, fixture/jig design, end effector design, material flow optimization
Proficiency in SolidWorks, NX or other industry CAD, AutoCAD tools (Fusion 360, Revit)
Experience reverse engineering from physical parts or assemblies, some FEA or CFD is helpful

Key Knowledge Areas

DFM principles and manufacturing processes (machining, forming, assembly, textiles)
Integration of sensors and vision systems into mechanical designs for automated cells
Pneumatics, fluid flow, and pressure systems for fabric/textile handling equipment
Material handling and flow optimization for textile processing lines
GD&T fundamentals for specifying critical interfaces and tolerances in assemblies
Robot work envelope planning and end effector mounting for various automation tasks

Nice to Have

NX, Rhino, SketchUp, Blender, or rendering tools
Robotic cell or CNC programming experience
Manufacturing engineering, cycle time analysis and Continuous Improvement concepts, OEE etc

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or proud projects and hands-on manufacturing excellence demonstrated

Why Framework

Mission with impact. Reshore manufacturing, shrink supply chains, and change how apparel is made.
True ownership. You report directly to the founder, steer the technical roadmap, and shape the culture.
Tangible output. See your code move robots and create apparel in minutes.

Apply

contact[at]framework.co