Fabricator (Prototyping)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Fabricator (Prototyping)

Company: Runware

Location: Bucharest, Romania

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Operations (Prototyping & Manufacturing Operations)

Date Posted: November 04, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in transforming advanced engineering designs into tangible, working hardware prototypes, requiring a deep understanding of manufacturing processes and precision assembly.

• The Fabricator will operate sophisticated machinery, including CNC mills, lathes, and automated welding cells, to produce components for next-generation AI infrastructure and modular data centers.

• Key focus areas include owning the fabrication quality from raw materials to finished product, providing critical feedback on manufacturability, and contributing to fast build-test-iterate cycles.

• This position demands a hands-on approach, blending technical fabrication skills with the ability to interpret complex engineering drawings and GD&T, ensuring prototypes meet stringent performance and tolerance requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Fabricator," the responsibilities and requirements clearly position this role within a specialized manufacturing operations or R&D prototyping function, emphasizing precision, engineering collaboration, and direct impact on product development cycles. The "hands-on" nature, "owning the engineering," and "feedback on manufacturability" are strong indicators of an operations role focused on bringing designs to life and optimizing production feasibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Machine Operation & Programming: Set up, program, and operate CNC mills, lathes, and other numerically controlled equipment using 2D drawings and 3D CAD models, ensuring adherence to G-code and CAM programming standards.

• Automated Welding: Program, set up, and operate automated and robotic welding cells (MIG/TIG), including the design and implementation of necessary fixtures and fine-tuning of welding parameters for various materials.

• Prototype & Test Rig Assembly: Precisely assemble mechanical and electromechanical prototypes, sub-assemblies, and test rigs according to detailed engineering specifications and drawings.

• Technical Drawing Interpretation: Read and interpret complex engineering drawings, including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) callouts, weld symbols, and Bills of Materials (BOMs), ensuring accurate fabrication and assembly.

• Quality Inspection & Documentation: Perform meticulous inspections of fabricated parts using precision metrology tools such as calipers, micrometers, and height gauges, and accurately document inspection results.

• Tooling & Fixture Development: Design and build specialized jigs, fixtures, and tooling to enhance efficiency and speed for repetitive fabrication tasks.

• Manufacturability Feedback: Provide early and constructive feedback to mechanical and systems engineers regarding manufacturability, optimal tolerances, material selection, and cost-effectiveness of designs.

• Workshop Management: Maintain and service machinery and tools, ensure the workshop is safe, clean, and organized, track material usage, manage stock and consumables, and oversee supplier orders.

• Health & Safety Compliance: Strictly adhere to all health, safety, and environmental regulations related to machining, welding, and pressure work, particularly concerning specific Romanian and EU standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of advanced manufacturing execution and direct engineering input. The emphasis on "owning fabrication quality," "giving engineers early feedback on manufacturability," and "fast build-test-iterate cycles" points to a crucial role in the product development lifecycle, typical of operations professionals in R&D or advanced manufacturing settings.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Vocational or technical qualification in machining, welding, or mechanical engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 3+ years of hands-on experience in fabrication, machining, or a prototype workshop environment.

Required Skills:

• Numerical Control (NC) Fabrication: Proven experience with CNC machining, including programming (G-code) and CAM software (e.g., Fusion 360, Mastercam, SolidCAM).

• Automated & Manual Welding: Experience setting up and operating automated or robotic welding systems, coupled with strong manual MIG/TIG welding skills on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

• Prototype Assembly: Demonstrated ability to assemble prototypes from technical drawings, including precise mechanical fit-up, fastening techniques, and basic electrical wiring.

• Technical Drawing Comprehension: Proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, and weld symbols, with a capacity to work to tight tolerances.

• Precision Measurement: Confident and accurate use of precision measuring tools for quality control and inspection.

• Quality Documentation: Ability to produce clear and concise quality documentation for fabricated parts and processes.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in both Romanian and English, essential for understanding technical documentation and collaborating with international teams.

Preferred Skills:

• High-Pressure Systems Fabrication: Experience fabricating components for high-pressure systems (piping, manifolds, vessels, fittings) and performing associated leak and pressure testing.

• Refrigeration/HVAC-R Component Experience: Familiarity with refrigeration or HVAC-R components, including copper and stainless tubing, brazing, flaring, swaging, and heat exchanger fabrication.

• Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of pressure equipment standards (e.g., PED 2014/68/EU, ASME) and Romanian ISCIR requirements.

• Certifications: Welder certification (ISO 9606 or equivalent) and refrigerant handling (F-gas) certification.

• CAD Skills: Ability to use CAD software (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar) for minor part adjustments and fixture design.

• Sheet Metal & Additive Manufacturing: Experience with sheet metal fabrication (laser/waterjet cutting, press brake) or additive manufacturing processes.

• Startup/R&D Environment: Previous experience working in a dynamic startup or R&D setting with rapidly evolving priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a blend of advanced machining and welding expertise, critical thinking for interpreting technical documentation, and practical application in assembly and quality control. The preferred skills indicate a specialization towards high-value, regulated manufacturing environments, suggesting the company is developing complex, potentially high-pressure or thermal management systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Precision Fabrication: Showcase examples of complex parts fabricated using CNC machining, highlighting precision, tight tolerances, and material expertise.

• Welding Expertise: Include visual evidence (photos, videos) of high-quality MIG/TIG welds on various materials, ideally demonstrating proficiency in both manual and automated/robotic welding.

• Assembly Projects: Present completed prototype assemblies, detailing the process from raw components to a functional unit, emphasizing mechanical and electromechanical integration.

• Technical Drawing to Reality: Provide case studies that clearly illustrate the process of taking engineering drawings (including GD&T) and transforming them into finished, inspected components.

• Tooling & Fixture Design: Showcase any jigs, fixtures, or specialized tooling developed to improve fabrication efficiency or accuracy.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss how you approach setting up and optimizing fabrication workflows for new designs, including considerations for material flow and machine allocation.

• Implementation & Automation: Detail your experience in implementing new fabrication processes, programming CNC machines, and setting up automated welding cells.

• Quality Control & Measurement: Explain your methods for ensuring quality throughout the fabrication process, including the use of metrology tools and documentation of results.

• Feedback Loop for Design: Articulate how you provide feedback on manufacturability to engineering teams, contributing to design revisions for improved production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio, especially for a fabrication role, underscores the company's focus on demonstrable skills and practical application. This is common in operations roles where physical output and process efficiency are key metrics. The emphasis on "proving its performance through testing" and "feedback on manufacturability" suggests a need for candidates who can not only build but also critically assess and improve designs from a production perspective.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: €25,000 - €40,000 annually (gross) for a mid-level Fabricator in Bucharest, Romania.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on research of similar fabrication, CNC machining, and welding roles in the Bucharest metropolitan area, considering the 3+ years of experience requirement and the specialized nature of prototyping and automated welding. Local market data from platforms like PayScale, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn Salary, adjusted for the specific technical demands and the startup/R&D context, informs this range. The "competitive salary" stated by the company suggests it will be aligned with or potentially exceed these benchmarks for strong candidates.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Compensation package designed to attract and retain skilled fabrication professionals.

• Real Ownership & Impact: Opportunity to see your work directly integrated into prototypes and pilot hardware, offering a tangible sense of accomplishment.

• Modern Workshop & Tooling: Access to a well-equipped, modern workshop with a budget allocated for necessary tools and equipment, ensuring efficient and high-quality work.

• Training & Certification Support: Company-provided support for obtaining relevant training and certifications, such as welding, pressure equipment operation, and F-gas handling, facilitating professional development.

• Collaborative Team Environment: Work within a small, technical team where individual input significantly influences product design and development processes.

Working Hours:

• Standard: Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for full-time roles.

• Flexibility: While on-site work is required, the startup environment may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, though core hours for collaboration and machine operation will be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical market rates for skilled trades and technical roles in Bucharest. The benefits highlight opportunities for professional growth, direct impact, and investment in tooling and training, which are strong attractors for skilled operations and manufacturing professionals. The "real ownership" and "small, technical team" aspects suggest an environment where an individual's contributions are highly visible and valued.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI Infrastructure & Modular Data Centers. Runware operates at the intersection of advanced hardware manufacturing, AI technology, and sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) or Startup. Based on the description of a "small, technical team" and an R&D focus, Runware likely operates with a lean, agile structure.

Founded: Specific founding date not provided, but the focus on developing "next generation designs" and "AI infrastructure" suggests a relatively modern company, possibly within the last decade.

Team Structure:

• Core Fabrication Unit: A small, highly skilled team focused on hands-on prototyping and manufacturing execution.

• Engineering Collaboration: Close working relationships with mechanical and systems engineers, involving direct feedback loops and iterative design processes.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Potential for interaction with software engineers and other R&D specialists as AI infrastructure development progresses.

Methodology:

• Build-Test-Iterate: A core operational methodology emphasizing rapid prototyping, performance validation, and continuous design refinement based on empirical results.

• Data-Driven Design: While the role is hands-on, the context of AI infrastructure implies that performance data from prototypes will heavily influence future iterations and design decisions.

• Lean & Agile Operations: The likely startup environment suggests an emphasis on efficiency, adaptability, and a results-oriented approach to fabrication and development.

Company Website: https://runware.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: Runware's focus on AI infrastructure and modular data centers positions it in a high-growth, technologically advanced sector. The company culture is likely to be innovative, fast-paced, and collaborative, valuing individuals who can contribute directly to tangible product development. The "small, technical team" implies a flat hierarchy where individual contributions are significant.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level, specialist technical role. It's a hands-on position focused on execution and direct contribution to product development rather than management.

Reporting Structure: The Fabricator will likely report to an Engineering Lead, R&D Manager, or Head of Operations/Manufacturing. Direct collaboration with mechanical and systems engineers is a key aspect of the role.

Operations Impact: The Fabricator's impact is direct and critical: they are responsible for bringing engineering designs to life, enabling the validation of new technologies, and providing essential feedback that shapes the manufacturability, performance, and cost of Runware's AI infrastructure and modular data centers. Their work directly influences the speed of innovation and the quality of early-stage products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced CNC programming, robotic welding, high-pressure systems, or specific materials relevant to data center infrastructure.

• Technical Leadership: Progress to a Senior Fabricator role, potentially mentoring junior team members, leading specific fabrication projects, or taking on greater responsibility for workshop operations and tooling.

• Process Improvement Expertise: Develop skills in optimizing manufacturing processes, improving efficiency, and implementing new fabrication technologies within the R&D context.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gain exposure to broader aspects of product development, including design for manufacturing (DFM), material science, and testing methodologies, potentially leading to roles in R&D engineering support or advanced manufacturing engineering.

• Certification & Training: Utilize company-provided support for certifications (e.g., advanced welding, pressure systems) to enhance professional credentials and expand capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this role is primarily within the technical fabrication and manufacturing operations domain. While not a traditional management track, advancement involves increasing technical complexity, ownership, and potentially mentorship, aligning with specialist career ladders common in advanced manufacturing and R&D environments.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Industrial Workshop / R&D Lab. The role requires working in a dedicated fabrication workshop equipped with CNC machines, welding stations, assembly areas, and metrology tools.

Office Location(s): Bucharest, Romania. The role is explicitly on-site in Bucharest or the surrounding metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• Hands-on & Technical: The environment is production-oriented, demanding precision, focus, and adherence to safety protocols.

• Tooling & Machinery: Access to modern, advanced fabrication equipment and a budget for necessary tools, supporting high-quality output.

• Collaborative Atmosphere: While individual work on machines is common, close interaction with engineering teams for design reviews and feedback is integral. The "small, technical team" suggests a close-knit working environment.

• Safety-Focused: Strict adherence to health, safety, and environmental regulations is paramount, especially given the nature of machining and welding operations.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are likely around 40 hours per week. Given the R&D and prototyping focus, there might be occasional needs for extended hours to meet critical project deadlines, but this would typically be managed through project planning and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is highly practical and technically demanding. Candidates should expect a setting focused on tangible output, precision, and direct problem-solving, characteristic of advanced manufacturing or R&D prototyping operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio, focusing on direct experience with CNC machining, automated welding, prototype assembly, and GD&T interpretation.

• Technical Interview: In-depth discussion with engineering and/or operations leads to assess technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and understanding of fabrication processes. This may include scenario-based questions related to common fabrication challenges.

• Portfolio Review & Walkthrough: Candidates will be asked to present and discuss their portfolio, explaining their role, the processes used, the challenges overcome, and the results achieved for specific projects.

• Workshop Visit/Practical Assessment (Potential): Depending on the candidate's location and the company's process, a practical assessment on-site or a detailed discussion about specific machine operations might be included.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion to assess alignment with Runware's innovative, fast-paced, and collaborative culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Breadth and Depth: Include examples that demonstrate proficiency across all key required skills: CNC machining, automated welding, manual welding, assembly, and precision measurement.

• Highlight Problem-Solving: For each project, explain not just what was built, but the engineering challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and how your feedback improved the design or process.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, quantify the results. For example, "Designed a fixture that reduced assembly time by X%," or "Achieved tolerances of +/- Y mm on critical component Z."

• Visuals are Key: Use high-quality photos and videos of your work. Clear, well-lit images of finished parts, complex assemblies, and welding quality are essential.

• Document Processes: Briefly explain the steps taken, the materials used, and the programming/setup involved for key projects.

• Address Preferred Skills: If you have experience in high-pressure systems, HVAC-R, or regulatory compliance, make sure these are prominently featured.

Challenge Preparation:

• Manufacturability Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach fabricating a given part design, identifying potential issues and suggesting design modifications for easier or more cost-effective production.

• Process Optimization Questions: Think about how you would improve the efficiency or quality of a standard fabrication process (e.g., setting up a batch of identical parts, optimizing a welding sequence).

• Safety & Compliance Scenarios: Consider how you would handle situations involving potential safety hazards or ensure compliance with specific standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of a portfolio requirement and the emphasis on "owning the engineering" and "consequential design decisions" suggest that the interview process will heavily scrutinize a candidate's practical skills, engineering acumen, and ability to contribute beyond basic execution. Candidates should prepare to articulate their thought process and impact thoroughly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Fabrication Machinery:

• CNC Machining Centers: CNC Mills, CNC Lathes. Proficiency in operating and programming these machines is essential.

• Automated Welding Systems: Robotic Welding Cells (MIG/TIG). Experience with setup, programming, and parameter tuning.

• Manual Welding Equipment: MIG, TIG welders for steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

• Sheet Metal Equipment (Preferred): Laser cutters, waterjet cutters, press brakes.

• Additive Manufacturing (Preferred): 3D printers for prototyping.

Programming & Design Software:

• CAM Software: Fusion 360, Mastercam, SolidCAM (or similar) for generating toolpaths and G-code.

• CAD Software: SolidWorks, Fusion 360 (or similar) for viewing/adjusting parts and designing fixtures.

Metrology & Inspection Tools:

• Precision Measuring Instruments: Calipers, micrometers, height gauges, bore gauges, CMM (potentially).

• Quality Documentation Tools: Software or templates for recording inspection data.

Specialized Equipment (Preferred):

• Pressure Testing Equipment: For leak and pressure testing of fabricated systems.

• Brazing/Flaring/Swaging Tools: For HVAC-R related work.

Workshop Management Tools:

• Inventory Management: Basic systems for tracking materials, consumables, and supplier orders.

• Safety Equipment: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safety guards, emergency response equipment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily weighted towards advanced manufacturing equipment and associated programming/design software. A candidate's familiarity and proficiency with these tools will be a primary evaluation criterion. The inclusion of CAD and CAM programming directly links fabrication to the design process, highlighting the integrated nature of this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Precision & Quality: A commitment to high standards in fabrication, assembly, and inspection, ensuring that prototypes are reliable and accurately represent designs.

• Innovation & Problem-Solving: A drive to find effective solutions to manufacturing challenges and to contribute creatively to design improvements.

• Collaboration & Communication: Openness to working closely with engineers, sharing feedback, and contributing to a shared goal of rapid product development.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for one's work, from raw material to finished prototype, and ensuring tasks are completed to specification and on time.

• Safety First: A culture that prioritizes adherence to safety protocols and environmental regulations in all workshop activities.

Collaboration Style:

• Engineering Partnership: A close, iterative relationship with engineering teams, characterized by frequent communication, design reviews, and joint problem-solving.

• Direct Feedback Loop: A culture where feedback on manufacturability, material performance, and design feasibility is actively encouraged and valued.

• Knowledge Sharing: Within the small technical team, a collaborative environment where best practices, tips, and learnings are shared to elevate the collective skill level and efficiency.

• Results-Oriented: A focus on achieving tangible outcomes through efficient processes and effective fabrication, driving the company's product development forward.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of technical excellence, innovative problem-solving, and strong interpersonal collaboration, essential for a role that bridges the gap between design and physical reality in a fast-paced R&D environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: Adapting quickly to frequent design changes and tight deadlines inherent in a prototyping and R&D environment.

• Complex Material & Tolerance Requirements: Working with diverse materials and achieving very tight tolerances, especially for specialized components like those in high-pressure or AI infrastructure systems.

• Bridging Design and Fabrication Gaps: Translating complex, potentially theoretical designs into practical, buildable components, requiring creative problem-solving.

• Maintaining High Standards: Ensuring consistent quality and precision across one-off parts and small pilot runs, while also managing workshop upkeep and safety.

• Navigating Regulatory Nuances (if applicable): Understanding and adhering to specific pressure equipment or refrigerant handling standards (PED, ASME, ISCIR, F-gas) if these become part of the core product.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Fabrication Techniques: Gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge CNC, robotic welding, and potentially additive manufacturing technologies.

• Specialized Material & System Knowledge: Deepening understanding of materials and systems relevant to AI infrastructure, data centers, and potentially high-pressure or thermal management applications.

• Process Optimization Skills: Learning to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements in fabrication workflows, contributing to greater operational effectiveness.

• Certification & Formal Training: Leveraging company support for welding, pressure equipment, and F-gas certifications to enhance technical credentials and expand career options.

• Exposure to R&D: Working closely with engineers on novel product development, offering insights into broader product lifecycle and innovation processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of advanced prototyping roles, requiring adaptability, technical mastery, and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are focused on deepening technical expertise and gaining exposure to specialized manufacturing and R&D processes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Process & Methodology: "Describe your process for setting up and running a CNC mill for a new, complex part. How do you ensure accuracy and quality throughout the process?" (Focus on your systematic approach, tooling, measurement, and quality checks.)

• Problem-Solving & Design Feedback: "Imagine an engineer provides you with a design that seems difficult or expensive to fabricate. How would you approach this situation, and what kind of feedback would you provide?" (Highlight your communication skills, understanding of DFM, and ability to offer constructive alternatives.)

• Automation & Efficiency: "You've been tasked with setting up a small batch run of 20 identical components using automated welding. What are the key steps you'd take, and how would you ensure consistency and quality?" (Demonstrate your understanding of programming, fixture design, parameter tuning, and quality control for automated processes.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding Runware: "What interests you about Runware's work in AI infrastructure and modular data centers, and how do you see your fabrication skills contributing to our mission?" (Research the company's website, understand their products and market position.)

• Teamwork & Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to work closely with an engineer to resolve a fabrication issue. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare examples that showcase your collaborative spirit and communication effectiveness.)

• Workshop Management: "How do you approach workshop organization, tool maintenance, and material inventory to ensure smooth operations and safety?" (Showcase your organizational skills and commitment to a safe, efficient workspace.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each key project, tell a story: the challenge, your approach/solution, the tools and techniques used, and the successful outcome.

• Visual Emphasis: Use high-resolution photos and videos. Point out specific details of your craftsmanship, welding quality, or assembly precision.

• Technical Detail: Be ready to discuss specific G-codes, CAM strategies, welding parameters, material properties, and metrology techniques relevant to your work.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate how your work contributed to the project's success, whether through enabling testing, improving design, or ensuring quality.

• Address Preferred Skills: If you have experience with preferred skills (e.g., high-pressure systems), highlight these with specific examples.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice emphasizes demonstrating not just technical proficiency but also a proactive, problem-solving mindset and strong communication skills, particularly in collaborating with engineering teams. The portfolio is central, requiring candidates to articulate their contributions and impact clearly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Fabricator (Prototyping) position:

• Submit Your Application: Apply directly through the provided link on Workable.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Gather high-quality examples of your fabrication work. Prioritize projects that showcase CNC machining, automated welding, prototype assembly, and your ability to interpret technical drawings (GD&T). Ensure clear visuals and brief descriptions of challenges and solutions.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3+ years of hands-on experience, specific skills in CNC programming (G-code, CAM), welding (MIG/TIG, automated), assembly, and metrology. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for Technical Discussion: Be ready to discuss your experience with specific machinery and software (Fusion 360, Mastercam, SolidWorks). Prepare to talk through your fabrication processes and problem-solving approaches.

• Research Runware: Understand their mission, products (AI infrastructure, modular data centers), and the technical challenges they aim to solve. This will help you articulate your interest and how you can contribute.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.