What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Hardware R&D position at Stealth Startup?
About the Company
With dual headquarters in Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, we own the full product lifecycle—from ideation and industrial design to engineering, manufacturing, quality, and global go-to-market. We are a Series-B company with award-winning products and a clear path toward a US IPO.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Director of Hardware R&D to lead end-to-end hardware development for next-generation smart pet devices. This role owns hardware strategy, execution, and team leadership across mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering—partnering tightly with Industrial Design, Firmware, AI, Operations, and China-based manufacturing teams.
You will set technical direction, raise engineering standards, and ensure scalable, reliable, and cost-effective products move from concept to mass production.
Key Responsibilities
Hardware Strategy & Architecture
- Define long-term hardware R&D roadmap aligned with product vision and business strategy
- Own system architecture for complex consumer IoT devices (sensors, motors, power, connectivity)
- Make build-vs-buy decisions; evaluate vendors, platforms, and emerging technologies
Product Development & Execution
- Lead full hardware lifecycle: concept → EVT/DVT/PVT → MP
- Drive cross-functional execution with ID, Firmware, AI, QA, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing
- Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, safety, regulatory, and cost targets
Team Leadership & Org Building
- Build, mentor, and scale high-performing US-based hardware teams
- Establish clear ownership, design review rigor, and decision-making frameworks
- Partner with China R&D and factory teams to ensure seamless global execution
Quality, Reliability & Compliance
- Set standards for reliability testing, DFMEA, tolerance analysis, and validation plans
- Own compliance strategy (FCC, UL, CE, RoHS, etc.) with Quality and Ops teams
- Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for field and production issues
Operational Excellence
- Own hardware schedules, risk management, and resource planning
- Balance innovation speed with manufacturability and scalability
- Influence cost, yield, and margin through design optimization
Qualifications
Required
- 12 years of hardware engineering experience in consumer electronics or IoT
- 5 years leading managers and senior engineers
- Proven track record shipping high-volume consumer hardware products
- Deep expertise in mechanical electrical systems integration
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, and supply chains
- Experience working with China-based factories and R&D teams
Preferred
- Experience with smart devices, robotics, sensors, motors, or AI-enabled hardware
- Background in design-driven product companies
- Experience scaling hardware orgs in fast-growing startups
- Familiarity with pet tech, healthcare devices, or home automation