As Director Hardware Engineering you will lead the Hardware Engineering Team that designs, builds, brings-up, and productizes Kavian platforms for Sakuu. This includes Kavian tool design, bring-up and debug, characterization, customer samples, and eventually production. This role entails cross-functional collaboration, defining various strategies which are part of system engineering, working for internal design and bring-up, validation needs as well as working with external CMs to meet the customer requirements.
Areas of focus:
- Manage the Hardware Engineering group
- Collaborate with cross functional stakeholders, including vendors and partners to perform technical and business feasibility analysis to enable strategic roadmap and finalize technical specifications
- Drive internal validation, bring up, productize to ensure platforms meet critical customer specifications and timelines.
- Work closely with Battery and Materials team, SW, PE, Ops, Quality and Business teams
- Provide oversight for, resolve and escalate engineering project risks and team issues.
- Develop robust engineering capabilities, leveraging both internal resources and external partners to enable us to respond quickly to the needs of our customers
- Track and report progress to senior leadership, identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
- Provide performance feedback in timely fashion including monthly, quarterly, and annual feedback
- Identify high quality external development and design partners to contract with and bolster Sakuu's ability to support new business growth and spinout process.
- The Director will be responsible for delivering proof of concepts (POC) and prototypes, mostly for platform solutions. This role requires a deep technical background, proven leadership, and the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
Required Background:
- BS in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (Master’s degree is a plus)
- 10+ years’ work experience in a combination of hands on as well as technical lead for building precision equipment
- Demonstrated expertise in driving technical interaction with multiple stakeholders (product management, engineering, manufacturing operations, quality etc.) to drive high value NPI
- Expert at cross-group collaboration for requirements creation, and feasibility studies
- Proven track record in developing POCs and prototypes, particularly in fast-paced and innovative environments.
- Exceptional problem-solving abilities and a passion for driving innovation and excellence.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with crisp, positive and can-do communication style and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, including promptness in responding to requests from other teams and stakeholders.
- Strong technical acumen and broad knowledge of current and emerging technologies
- Proven capability to align and negotiate with key stakeholders within an organization and have a strong sense of team accountability.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
- Active listening skills and ability to dissect problems in an organized manner and competing priorities