What are the responsibilities and job description for the Head of Digital Fabrication position at OXMAN?
About OXMAN
OXMAN is a hybrid Design and R&D company fusing design, technology, and biology to invent multi-scale products and environments. By bridging disciplines, we unlock opportunities once thought impossible, allowing design to inspire science, and science to inspire design.
At OXMAN, we challenge design paradigms that have prioritized humanity at the expense of Nature (human-centric design). While design has contributed to this separation, we believe it holds the greatest power to repair it.
Our practice advances a Nature-centric approach that delivers design solutions by, for, and with the natural world, while enriching humanity. In this pursuit, we reject segregation in all forms, calling instead for a radical synergy between human-made and Nature-grown environments.
This philosophy compels us to design across scales for systems-level impact. Every designed construct is conceived not as an isolated object, but as part of a larger web of interdependent relationships. In doing so, we move beyond mere maintenance toward the active advancement of Nature.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Head of Digital Fabrication to pioneer new tools, techniques, and technologies at the forefront of design, fabrication, and material innovation. This role is pivotal to OXMAN’s mission to serve as a hub of research and innovation in digital fabrication, ensuring our processes and outputs embody cutting-edge sustainability, creativity, and industrial relevance.
The Head of Digital Fabrication will lead both client-driven projects and long-term initiatives, working fluidly across disciplines including design, materials engineering, organic chemistry, biotechnology, and synthetic ecology. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of groundbreaking fabrication methods, novel design tools, and sustainable industrial applications.
Responsibilities
● Research & Development:
○ Conceive and develop fabrication tools and techniques at the intersection of design, digital fabrication, materials, and emerging sciences.
○ Drive the invention of novel fabrication methods with potential for commercialization and industrial application.
○ Identify opportunities for future research and intellectual property in partnership with the broader OXMAN team.
● Technical Leadership:
○ Oversee the design, fabrication, operation, installation, and maintenance of electromechanical systems and technologies (including 3D printing, milling, and forming).
○ Develop and validate system performance tests; troubleshoot digital and analog circuits.
○ Direct preparation and review of technical drawings, specifications, and models.
● Collaboration & Management:
○ Partner with the Shop Manager to prototype designs of varying complexity.
○ Collaborate with the Head of Industrial Design and Shop Manager to refine workshop principles, processes, and ISO standards.
○ Evaluate and implement modifications, replacements, and testing of tools, products, and competitor/vendor technologies.
● Knowledge & Communication:
○ Stay at the forefront of emerging research, materials, and trends; attend seminars, training, and educational programs.
○ Clearly communicate work, ideas, and progress across internal teams and external partners.
Qualifications
● Proven expertise in digital fabrication, with advanced skills in design and technical development.
● Exceptional track record in developing innovative design tools, methods, and processes, ideally with patented contributions.
● Strong interdisciplinary background spanning design, engineering, fabrication, and material innovation.
● Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in both research and client projects s.
● Ability to translate scientific and technical theories into design-centric applications.
● Strong communicator with attention to detail and a collaborative spirit.
Why Join OXMAN
At OXMAN, you will be part of a practice that redefines the boundaries of what design and fabrication can achieve for industry, society, and the natural world. This role offers the unique opportunity to shape not only new tools and technologies, but also the very principles of process-driven design within a rapidly evolving landscape of sustainability and innovation.
OXMAN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.
NYC Salary Range: $125,000-$225,000
Salary is based on a number of factors including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other business and organizational needs. Our compensation package also includes variable compensation in the form of year-end bonuses, benefits, immigration assistance, and equity participation.
Salary : $125,000 - $225,000