
Lab Operations Specialist at Dexmate (Fremont, CA)
Dexmate· Fremont, CA·
Role details
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full-Time
Job description
THE ROLE
You'll build and run the physical operations layer of the company: how material comes in, how it gets tracked, how it reaches the engineer who needs it, and how finished robots get out the door and to a customer in one piece. Today that means inventing the system. Later it means running and scaling it.
This is a hands-on job. You'll be on the floor, in the lab, and on the loading dock.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Inventory and materials
- Design and run our inventory system end to end — part numbering, bin and location scheme, receiving, put-away, cycle counts
- Own inventory accuracy across labs, warehouses, and set the accuracy targets we hold ourselves to
- Kit parts for robot builds and get them to the right bench at the right time
- Manage consumables and reorder points: fasteners, cabling, adhesives, PPE, ESD supplies
- Track tools and lab equipment, including calibration schedules and preventative maintenance
Lab operations
- Set and enforce lab organization standards — labeled storage, bench discipline, 5S, clean-as-you-go
- Own ESD compliance and lab safety practices
- Handle battery and hazmat storage in line with our lithium-ion safety requirements
- Support lab buildouts: new benches, test stations, equipment installs
Customer shipping
- Own outbound robot shipments end to end, domestic and international
- Design and source crating and packaging — shock mounting, tip and impact indicators, reusable vs. one-way
- Manage freight forwarders and carriers; quote and book LTL, FTL, and air freight; select Incoterms
- Prepare export documentation: commercial invoices, packing lists, HS classification, certificates of origin
- Maintain serial-number-level tracking and as-shipped configuration records for every unit
- Handle cargo insurance and damage claims
- Coordinate inbound and outbound with our Seoul office
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 3+ years in hardware lab operations, materials management, or logistics at a hardware, robotics, or capital equipment company
- Direct experience with inbound and outbound logistics, including international shipments
- You've built or meaningfully improved an inventory system, not just operated one someone else designed
- Comfortable around engineering hardware — you can read a BOM, understand why a part revision matters, and handle prototypes without damaging them
- High bar for organization and accuracy, and willing to hold other people to it
- Able to lift 50 lbs and be on your feet for much of the day
STRONG PLUSES
- Current hazmat / dangerous goods certification for lithium batteries (49 CFR ground, IATA DGR air). If you don't have it, we'll certify you — but someone here needs it before our first unit ships.
- Experience shipping capital equipment internationally: semiconductor tooling, medical imaging, industrial automation, or similar
- Export compliance background — ECCN classification, restricted party screening, license determination
- Forklift certification
- Experience at a company that scaled from prototype builds to customer shipments
Why work at Dexmate
- Mission-Driven: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge general-purpose robotics and Physical AI, moving technology from labs to real-world impact.
- Engineering-Heavy Culture: 60% of employees are in technical roles (AI, robotics, software, hardware), with a strong emphasis on hands-on building.
- Fast-Growing Startup: ~328% headcount growth in one year, indicating high trajectory and opportunity for early employees to have outsized impact.
- Location: HQ in Santa Clara, CA (Silicon Valley), with an in-office work policy (on-site workspace).
- Compensation: Engineering roles list salary ranges like $100K–$300K, competitive for the robotics/AI space.
- Notable Culture Signals: "Build with us" hiring language, active LinkedIn community (4,273 followers), and a focus on "smile, reach out, and instantly connect" suggests a collaborative, builder-oriented environment.