Lead Hardware Engineer

We’re partnering with a well-funded, venture-backed AI company developing intelligent hardware and software for real world enterprise environments. Following a recent funding round, the company is expanding its engineering organization and investing significantly in its next generation of connected products. The platform combines purpose-built hardware, edge computing, sensing, connectivity, and cloud-based intelligence.

Its products are already deployed with enterprise customers, and the company is preparing to expand into several new hardware categories, including edge-enabled cameras, intercoms, access control systems, and other connected devices. This is an opportunity to take day to day technical ownership of an established hardware portfolio while developing new products from the ground up.

You will initially spend the majority of your time directly designing, prototyping, testing, and preparing products for manufacturing. Within the first year, you will begin hiring and leading a small hardware team while remaining closely involved in product development. The position is structured as a Lead Hardware Engineer role today because the immediate need is direct technical ownership and execution.

As additional engineers are hired and the organization grows, the role’s leadership scope will expand accordingly. This is a full-time, permanent position onsite five days per week in Sunnyvale, CA.

About the Role

We’re looking for a hands on, startup-minded Lead Hardware Engineer to own hardware development across product design, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and future team growth. The role begins primarily as an individual contributor position. You will personally own detailed engineering work while helping define how the hardware function operates.

Within the first year, you will begin hiring and leading a small team while remaining directly involved in design, prototyping, technical reviews, and problem-solving. The ideal candidate is a strong mechanical or product design engineer who has progressed into leading or mentoring other engineers without moving away from individual technical execution.

You will take ownership of the company’s existing hardware and manufacturing relationships while driving new products through concept, validation, production, deployment, and post-launch support. You will have significant autonomy over how products are designed, tested, manufactured, and scaled.

The strongest candidates have shipped complex connected hardware on relatively fast development cycles, worked directly with contract manufacturers, and understand what happens after a product leaves the prototype stage.

Responsibilities

Own connected hardware products from concept through EVT, DVT, PVT, manufacturing ramp, deployment, and post-launch support Take day to day technical ownership of the company’s existing product portfolio and manufacturing relationships Develop mechanical and electromechanical architectures that integrate electronics, cameras, sensors, compute, power, thermal management, and connectivity Personally create CAD models, engineering drawings, tolerance analyses, FMEAs, simulations, and manufacturing documentation Hire and coach additional hardware engineers as product-development needs grow Build and test prototypes, identify technical risks, and iterate quickly as requirements evolve Own complete design-transfer packages, including CAD, drawings, BOMs, assembly procedures, quality documentation, and inspection requirements Balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, appearance, and speed to market Lead contract manufacturer and supplier relationships across DFM reviews, tooling, sourcing, builds, schedules, cost, yield, and quality Work directly with domestic and overseas manufacturing partners throughout production ramp Troubleshoot manufacturing and field issues, lead root-cause investigations, and implement corrective actions Own certification and compliance efforts for new and existing products Establish practical hardware development processes, validation plans, stage gates, change control, and quality systems Translate customer and field feedback into clear technical requirements Partner closely with product, industrial design, electrical engineering, software, operations, and supply chain teams Remain actively involved in design, prototyping, technical reviews, and problem-solving while leading the team Must Have Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals and recent hands on product design experience Experience shipping at least one complex electromechanical product at meaningful volume through a contract manufacturer End-to-end ownership across concept development, EVT, DVT, PVT, manufacturing ramp, and post-launch support Experience developing connected products that integrate electronics, sensors, power, compute, imaging, or connectivity Strong proficiency with CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, FMEA, DFM, and DFA Experience creating and owning complete design-transfer and manufacturing documentation Direct experience managing contract manufacturers, suppliers, tooling, production builds, schedules, cost, and quality Experience working in a startup, growth-stage company, or similarly fast-moving product-development environment Experience leading a small engineering team, hiring engineers, or mentoring other technical contributors Ability and interest in continuing to contribute directly to detailed product development Experience with product certification and compliance requirements Willingness to travel to manufacturing partners in Taiwan or Vietnam approximately once or twice per year Nice to Have Qualifications Experience as an early hardware hire at a startup Experience progressing from a senior individual contributor into managing a small engineering team Experience developing connected devices, edge systems, cameras, access-control products, IoT devices, robotics, or consumer electronics Familiarity with imaging sensors, computer-vision hardware, embedded systems, or digital signal processing Experience with board bring-up, electrical validation, or other hands on electrical engineering work Experience working directly with manufacturing partners in Asia Mandarin Chinese proficiency Experience with FCC, UL, CE, ISO, or regulated-industry quality systems Experience supporting multiple hardware product lines Degree from a highly regarded engineering program What Success Looks Like During your first 90 days, you will develop a detailed understanding of the existing product portfolio, manufacturing relationships, technical roadmap, and current development processes.

You will begin taking direct ownership of active engineering priorities and new product development. During your first six months, you will spend most of your time personally designing, prototyping, validating, and preparing products for manufacturing. You will introduce practical development and quality processes without slowing down execution.

Over your first year, you will advance new hardware categories through development and validation, strengthen the company’s manufacturing foundation, and begin hiring a small, high-performing hardware team. As the team and product portfolio grow, the position can expand into broader hardware leadership responsibility.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary of $200,000 to $250,000+, depending on experience Meaningful equity in a fast-growing, venture-backed company 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and base life insurance 401(k) with traditional and Roth options Flexible paid time off Daily team meals and regular company off-sites Free onsite EV charging