The Director of Hardware Engineering leads the design, development, and delivery of innovative hardware solutions, driving engineering excellence and product quality. This role oversees cross-functional hardware engineering teams, ensures alignment with business goals, and provides strategic direction in product development, testing, and lifecycle management.
Lead, mentor, and manage hardware engineering teams (electrical, mechanical, RF, PCB, FPGA, etc.).
Oversee the end-to-end hardware development cycle: concept, design, prototyping, validation, manufacturing, and release.
Collaborate with product management, software, and operations teams to define hardware requirements.
Establish and enforce engineering best practices, design standards, and quality metrics.
Drive innovation in hardware architecture, component selection, and system integration.
Manage budgets, resources, and timelines for hardware projects.
Evaluate and approve hardware designs, ensuring reliability, performance, and scalability.
Partner with suppliers and manufacturing teams for sourcing, DFM (Design for Manufacturing), and production readiness.
Stay updated on emerging technologies, market trends, and competitive landscape.
Represent hardware engineering leadership in executive strategy and business planning discussions.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
10+ years of progressive experience in hardware design and engineering.
5+ years in a leadership or director-level role managing hardware teams.
Proven expertise in product development (consumer electronics, medical devices, semiconductors, or related hardware fields).
Strong knowledge of circuit design, PCB layout, power systems, embedded systems, RF, and mechanical integration.
Experience with compliance, certifications, and regulatory standards (FCC, CE, UL, ISO).
Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Strategic leadership and team-building.
Strong project and program management skills.
Deep technical knowledge in hardware design and testing.
Vendor and supply chain management experience.
Ability to balance innovation, cost, and time-to-market.
Corporate engineering/R&D setting.
Collaboration with design centers, manufacturing sites, and global suppliers.
Travel may be required for supplier management and cross-site coordination.