What are the responsibilities and job description for the R&D - Associate Director Hardware Engineering position at The Duracell Company?
Job Description
The Associate Director of Hardware Engineering is responsible for end-to-end ownership of the Procell InSite hardware platform, including architecture, development, industrialization and scaled production. This role leverages the product requirements to define the hardware technical strategy and execution model required to deliver reliable, manufacturable, and globally deployable products aligned with our business objectives.
This leader serves as the senior hardware authority for Procell InSite—setting direction, making critical technical and investment tradeoffs, and ensuring hardware execution scales efficiently across product generations. The role leads a core internal engineering team, orchestrates external design partners, and coordinates engagement with contract manufacturers and key suppliers.
Success requires a combination of deep engineering judgment, manufacturing credibility, and strong people leadership, with the ability to translate product strategy into durable hardware platforms delivered at scale.
This role is based in Atlanta, with up to 20% domestic and international travel.
Responsibilities
Hardware Platform Ownership
Qualifications
Required Skills and Experience
Duracell is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance alkaline batteries, complemented by a portfolio of high quality, market leading specialty, rechargeable and professional batteries. Duracell’s products power numerous critical professional devices across the globe such as heart rate monitors, defibrillators, telemetry devices, smoke detectors, fire alarms, automated valves and security systems. As the leader in the professional power category, Duracell has a rich history of innovation, continuously introducing batteries that are smaller, thinner, with more energy and longer lasting than competitive brands. Since March 2016, Duracell has found its permanent home within Berkshire Hathaway (ranked #4 World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune Magazine and #3 in the Fortune 500), and will continue to focus on sustainable growth, industry-leading innovation while creating long-term value for our customers and consumers. At Duracell, integrity, end-to-end accountability across all levels, fast decision-making and a “can do” attitude is highly valued.
The Associate Director of Hardware Engineering is responsible for end-to-end ownership of the Procell InSite hardware platform, including architecture, development, industrialization and scaled production. This role leverages the product requirements to define the hardware technical strategy and execution model required to deliver reliable, manufacturable, and globally deployable products aligned with our business objectives.
This leader serves as the senior hardware authority for Procell InSite—setting direction, making critical technical and investment tradeoffs, and ensuring hardware execution scales efficiently across product generations. The role leads a core internal engineering team, orchestrates external design partners, and coordinates engagement with contract manufacturers and key suppliers.
Success requires a combination of deep engineering judgment, manufacturing credibility, and strong people leadership, with the ability to translate product strategy into durable hardware platforms delivered at scale.
This role is based in Atlanta, with up to 20% domestic and international travel.
Responsibilities
Hardware Platform Ownership
- Lead the architecture, design, validation, and lifecycle management of Procell InSite hardware modules, including PCBAs, enclosures, power systems, and sensor integrations.
- Ensure hardware designs meet requirements for reliability, cost, manufacturability, regulatory compliance, and global deployment.
- Own hardware design documentation, specifications, and technical change management.
- Manage relationships with contract manufacturers (CMs), including NPI, pilot builds, ramp‑to‑production, and sustained manufacturing.
- Own component sourcing strategy in partnership with CPS, including supplier selection, cost targets, lead times, and risk mitigation.
- Drive DFM, DFA, and yield improvement initiatives to ensure production readiness and cost efficiency.
- Develop and maintain production schedules aligned with program milestones, commercial launches, and customer deployments.
- Partner closely with Program Management, CPS, and Operations to manage capacity planning, inventory strategy, and delivery commitments.
- Lead issue resolution for manufacturing, quality, or supply disruptions.
- Manage, coach, and develop a small, high‑impact team of hardware engineers.
- Set clear technical expectations, performance goals, and development plans.
- Effectively leverage external contractors and manufacturing partners to scale execution without increasing fixed cost.
- Work closely with Firmware, Software, Product Management, Quality, and Commercial teams to ensure seamless system integration.
- Support customer pilots, field trials, and early deployments by providing technical leadership and rapid issue resolution.
- Communicate clearly and concisely with senior leadership on risks, tradeoffs, and execution status.
Qualifications
Required Skills and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field (Master’s preferred).
- 8 years of experience in hardware engineering, with at least 3 years in a people‑management or technical leadership role.
- Proven experience taking hardware products from concept through mass production.
- Hands‑on experience working with contract manufacturers and global supply chains.
- Strong understanding of PCBA design, power management, low‑power systems, and hardware validation/testing.
- Demonstrated ability to balance technical depth with execution speed and cost discipline.
- Experience with IoT, embedded systems, or battery‑powered devices.
- Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements for global hardware deployment.
- Experience supporting early‑stage or fast‑scaling products in ambiguous environments.
- Strong systems‑thinking mindset with the ability to anticipate downstream impacts of design decisions.
Duracell is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance alkaline batteries, complemented by a portfolio of high quality, market leading specialty, rechargeable and professional batteries. Duracell’s products power numerous critical professional devices across the globe such as heart rate monitors, defibrillators, telemetry devices, smoke detectors, fire alarms, automated valves and security systems. As the leader in the professional power category, Duracell has a rich history of innovation, continuously introducing batteries that are smaller, thinner, with more energy and longer lasting than competitive brands. Since March 2016, Duracell has found its permanent home within Berkshire Hathaway (ranked #4 World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune Magazine and #3 in the Fortune 500), and will continue to focus on sustainable growth, industry-leading innovation while creating long-term value for our customers and consumers. At Duracell, integrity, end-to-end accountability across all levels, fast decision-making and a “can do” attitude is highly valued.