--- title: 'Manufacturing Specialist at Mesh Optical Technologies' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-specialist-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-zqs7b2c0943t' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-09' --- # Manufacturing Specialist at Mesh Optical Technologies - **Company:** Mesh Optical Technologies - **Location:** Gardena, CA - **Posted:** 2026-02-17 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/meshopticaltechnologies/jobs/4134597009 ## Job description ## MANUFACTURING SPECIALIST We are seeking a Manufacturing Specialist to support operation, stability, and evolution of our automated production systems. This is a deeply hands-on technical role. You will operate and troubleshoot production equipment, support new hardware introductions, and assist with development hardware bring-up as products transition from engineering to the factory. You will work closely with Manufacturing Engineers, Electrical Engineers, and Production Supervisors to stabilize lines, support new builds, and improve process performance. The ideal candidate is comfortable owning complex equipment, diagnosing issues independently, and driving practical solutions on the floor. ## RESPONSIBILITIES: - Operate and monitor automated production cells and assembly systems. - Perform hands-on troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and process issues. - Support equipment startups, changeovers, and line adjustments. - Assist with development hardware builds and bring-up during NPI. - Help debug early production units and prototype builds. - Support fixture setup, precision alignment systems, and test equipment. - Identify process deviations and stabilize production before escalation. - Maintain disciplined documentation and MES traceability. ## QUALIFICATIONS: - High school diploma or equivalency certificate. - 2+ years of experience in automated or precision manufacturing environments. - Experience working with electro-mechanical hardware systems. - Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills. - Comfort working with prototype or development hardware. - Ability to read mechanical drawings and follow technical documentation. - Process disciplined, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure. ## PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: - Technical certification or associate degree in manufacturing, mechatronics, or related field. - Experience in semiconductor, photonic, or precision electro-mechanical environments. - Familiarity with MES systems and production traceability. - Experience supporting NPI or early production ramp. ## COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Pay range: Manufacturing Specialist: $34.00 - $48.00/per hour Title and base salary are determined on a case by case basis commensurate with experience and merit. In addition to base salary, compensation for this role includes: - Eligibility for long-term incentives including company stock options and discretionary bonuses awarded for exceptional achievements. - Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance with significant cost covered by the company for yourself and dependents. - Paid parental leave and flexible PTO (3 weeks accrued vacation and 10 company holidays per year). - 401(k) retirement plan access. ## About Mesh Optical Technologies ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Mesh Optical Technologies designs and manufactures advanced optical systems at scale, targeting hyperscale computing and AI infrastructure. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series A - $50M led by Thrive Capital, as of February 2026) - **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States - **Founded**: Not publicly available - **Founders**: Travis Brashears (Co-Founder & CEO), Cameron Ramos (Co-Founder & President) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Computer Hardware Manufacturing / Advanced Optics / Photonics - **Target customers**: B2B – hyperscale data centers, AI compute clusters, and space-based optical communications - **Mission or purpose**: "Advance the state of the art in optical manufacturing, closing a critical supply chain gap in hyperscale computing, and building the next generation of optical hardware on Earth and in space." ## Products & Services - **Alpha C1 optical transceiver**: A 1.6 Terabits per second optical transceiver that linearly translates electrical signals to light. Designed for AI workloads and power-constrained data centers, it delivers better power efficiency, lower latency, and higher reliability. Its optical engine is manufactured entirely with flip chip die bonding – the same technology used to package chips in modern processors – enabling high-volume production. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding of $50M (Series A, February 2026) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Thrive Capital (lead), plus two other major investors (names not specified) - **Growth Signals**: 11 employees with 29 open job postings; 20% monthly headcount growth; team includes alumni from SpaceX, Intel, Apple, Helion, and other advanced manufacturing environments ## Competitive Advantages - **Integrated design & manufacturing**: Unlike most photonics companies that treat manufacturing as a downstream exercise, Mesh designs and builds its own factories, closing the feedback loop between device physics, packaging, yield, and automation. - **Flip chip die bonding**: The Alpha C1 uses a proven, high-volume chip-packaging technique, allowing rapid scaling to millions of units per year – a major departure from the manual, low-volume assembly typical of US optical manufacturing. ## Strategic Focus - Scale production of the Alpha C1 transceiver to meet demand from AI clusters. - Develop new high-volume optical manufacturing techniques for terrestrial and in-space infrastructure (laser links, deep space probes). - Continue to hire across engineering, operations, and manufacturing to expand its Los Angeles-based factory and R&D capabilities. ## Why Work Here - **Engineering culture**: "Build your own factory" – the team believes in engineering to the limit of physics and writing software that maximizes hardware capability. - **Impact**: Opportunity to close a critical supply chain gap in US optical manufacturing and shape the next generation of computing infrastructure. - **Work environment**: On-site in Los Angeles (two offices in the area); highly technical team with deep expertise from SpaceX, Intel, Apple, and other hardware leaders. - **Growth**: Rapidly scaling startup with 29 open roles across electrical, mechanical, process, and manufacturing engineering, as well as operations and recruiting. ## Sources 1. [meshoptical.com](https://www.meshoptical.com/) 2. [meshoptical.com/blog](https://www.meshoptical.com/blog/introducing-mesh) 3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/meshoptical) 4. [meshoptical.com/process](https://www.meshoptical.com/process) 5. [meshoptical.com/careers](https://www.meshoptical.com/careers-new) ## Other roles at Mesh Optical Technologies - [Soldering Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/soldering-technician-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-94etdyjvyd85) — Gardena, CA - [Sourcing Specialist (All Levels)](https://feeny.ai/job/sourcing-specialist-all-levels-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-m3kyn75ct63d) — Gardena, CA - [Shipping & Receiving Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/shipping-receiving-specialist-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-mxyry7wn5cyb) — Gardena, CA - [Supplier Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/supplier-development-engineer-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-rz608565swfd) — Gardena, CA - [Software Integration & Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/software-integration-test-engineer-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-x7fgq7eddpvj) — Gardena, CA - [Senior Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-recruiter-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-h4n61ehmwnxd) — Gardena, CA - [Senior Process Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-process-engineer-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-jjw3wcmxmqnb) — Gardena, CA - [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-qck6j103vmsk) — Gardena, CA - [Senior Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electrical-engineer-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-bshmhe3zcqqd) — Gardena, CA - [Production Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/production-technician-mesh-optical-technologies-gardena-7997vdr7g297) — Gardena, CA