Head of Engineering

I’m partnering with an ambitious early-stage robotics company in California, that is developing advanced robotic systems for use in complex, real-world environments. This role will be based in the Bay Area, with some travel to Los Angeles (relocation package available).

This is very much a player-coach Head of Engineering role. You’ll remain close enough to the technology to challenge assumptions and support technical decision-making, while taking ownership of how the engineering organisation operates and scales.

Responsibilities;

• Leading and developing a multidisciplinary robotics engineering team.
• Building the engineering processes, operating rhythms and structure required as the company scales.
• Improving planning, prioritisation and execution across complex hardware and software programmes.
• Establishing robust approaches to systems engineering, testing, validation and technical documentation.
• Working closely with the founders and engineering team to challenge technical assumptions and improve decision-making.
• Helping translate commercial and customer requirements into realistic engineering priorities.
• Recruiting and developing the next generation of engineering talent.
• Remaining close enough to the technical work to validate estimates, identify risks and unblock the team.

Successful applicants will have the following experience;

• Strong experience within robotics, autonomous systems or another highly complex multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• C++, ROS/ROS2, Python, simulation, CAD and HIL experience.
• Previous experience building or scaling engineering teams within an early-stage technology business.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership experience.
• A strong systems engineering mindset, particularly around testing, validation, reliability and requirements.
• Enough technical depth across robotics hardware and software to credibly challenge engineers and contribute to technical decisions.