Assembly Manager

Role Overview

The Assembly Manager is a key operational leader responsible for all bicycle assembly activity at Frame First. You will directly manage a team of skilled Bicycle Assemblers, set and enforce quality standards, develop and improve assembly processes, and ensure production throughput meets partner and customer commitments. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who brings deep technical knowledge of bicycle assembly alongside the organizational and communication skills to build and lead a high-performing team.

Core Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management

•     Directly supervise, coach, and develop a team of Bicycle Assemblers across all skill levels

•     Conduct performance reviews, set individual goals, and identify training and advancement opportunities

•     Manage daily staffing, shift scheduling, and labor allocation against build volume requirements

•     Foster a safety-first, quality-focused culture on the shop floor

Assembly Operations & Process

•     Own the end-to-end assembly process for all bicycle builds across road, gravel, mountain, and e-bike categories

•     Develop, document, and continuously improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all build types

•     Establish work cell organization and assembly line flow to maximize throughput and minimize errors

•     Collaborate with Planning & Fulfillment to schedule builds against inbound inventory and outbound delivery timelines

•     Identify tooling, workstation, or equipment needs and work with leadership to resource them

Quality Control

•     Define and enforce quality standards for all outgoing builds — from torque specs to cable routing to final inspection

•     Implement a formal pre-shipment QC process with documented checklists across all bike types and configurations

•     Own defect tracking — identify recurring issues, trace root causes, and implement corrective actions

•     Partner with brand and component partners on build specifications to ensure assembly accuracy and brand integrity

•     Manage warranty and return workflows when assembly-related issues are identified post-delivery

Compliance & Reporting

•     Maintain a clean, organized, and OSHA-compliant facility in collaboration with the Operations team

•     Track and report on key metrics: builds completed, cycle time, defect rate, rework rate, and labor efficiency

•     Support inventory management including component staging, waste reduction, and cycle count participation

Qualifications

Required

•     5 years of bicycle assembly experience with demonstrated expertise across multiple disciplines (road, MTB, gravel, or e-bike)

•     2 years in a supervisory, lead, or team management role in a production, shop, or fulfillment environment

•     Deep working knowledge of drivetrain systems, suspension setup, hydraulic brakes, and electronic groupsets (Shimano Di2, SRAM AXS, etc.)

•     Proven ability to develop SOPs and implement repeatable quality processes

•     Strong communication and organizational skills — comfortable leading a team and interfacing with operations and brand partners

•     Proficiency with standard hand tools, torque wrenches, and shop equipment

Preferred

•     BBI (Barnett Bicycle Institute) or UBI (United Bicycle Institute) certification, or equivalent

•     Experience in a production assembly environment (vs. traditional retail shop)

•     Familiarity with Bosch, Shimano, Avinox and other e-bike drive systems

•     Experience with build documentation systems, ERP, or inventory management platforms

•     Prior exposure to Lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies

Compensation & Benefits

Salary

Competitive — commensurate with experience

Health Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

PTO

Paid time off and company holidays

Employee Bike Program

Access to Employee Loaner Bike program and demo bikes

Growth Opportunity

Key leadership role in a high-growth startup

Why Frame First

You won't find a role like this anywhere else in the cycling industry. As our Assembly Manager, you're not managing a repair queue in a retail shop or overseeing mass-production in a warehouse. You're building premium bikes — for brands you know and respect — and doing it at a company where your expertise directly shapes how we operate. We're early stage with real momentum, and the person who takes this role will have an outsized impact on our quality reputation, team culture, and long-term growth.