Sean Munnis

Sean Munnis has a diverse work experience spanning various industries and roles. Starting in 2007, they worked as a Student Engineer in the U.S. Coast Guard, responsible for the safe operation of engineering systems and equipment. Sean held leadership positions such as Damage Control Assistant, managing a division and coordinating crew training. In 2009, they transitioned to MIT as a Graduate Student and Researcher.

From 2011 to 2016, Sean returned to the U.S. Coast Guard as a Port Engineer, overseeing maintenance planning and execution for two 378' cutters. Sean also served as an Assistant Professor in the department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, teaching college-level courses.

In 2016, Sean joined Tesla, initially as a Technical Program Manager for New Product Introduction, managing change control for Model 3 sub-systems. Sean later became a Senior Technical Program Manager, leading projects related to the Model 3 General Assembly line, production ramp, and improvement initiatives during factory shutdowns.

From 2018 to 2019, Sean worked at Fictiv as the Head of Program Management, leading a team and ensuring timely delivery of customer orders across domestic and overseas manufacturing partners. Sean then joined Formlabs as the Head of Manufacturing Engineering, managing a team of manufacturing engineers and overseeing NPI and mass production of flagship products.

In 2021, Sean joined Rivian, first as a Manager of Technical Program Management, then as a Senior Manager of Manufacturing Engineering. Their responsibilities included managing manufacturing projects and leading a team in manufacturing engineering.

Most recently, Sean joined Optima Manufacturing Partners in 2022 as a Partner and currently holds the position of VP of Operations at Forge since 2023.

Sean Munnis holds a Master of Science (MS) degree in Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, and Marine Engineering, which they obtained from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2009 to 2011. Prior to that, they completed their Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering at the United States Coast Guard Academy from 2003 to 2007. In addition to their degrees, Sean has obtained several certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute in May 2014. Sean also holds a Professional Engineer certification from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, obtained in May 2013. Sean further possesses certifications in Shipboard Corrosion Assessment Technician from NACE, acquired in March 2012, and CIP Coating Inspector Level 1 from NACE, obtained in August 2011.