Director, Hardware Engineering & Operations

ACV • Buffalo, NY

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

If you are looking for a career at a dynamic company with a people-first mindset and a deep culture of growth and autonomy, ACV is the right place for you! Competitive compensation packages and learning and development opportunities, ACV has what you need to advance to the next level in your career. We will continue to raise the bar every day by investing in our people and technology to help our customers succeed. We hire people who share our passion, bring innovative ideas to the table, and enjoy a collaborative atmosphere.
Who we are:
ACV is a technology company that has revolutionized how dealers buy and sell cars online. We are transforming the automotive industry. ACV Auctions Inc. (ACV), has applied innovation and user-designed, data driven applications and solutions. We are building the most trusted and efficient digital marketplace with data solutions for sourcing, selling and managing used vehicles with transparency and comprehensive insights that were once unimaginable. We are disruptors of the industry and we want you to join us on our journey. Our network of brands include ACV Auctions, ACV Transportation, ClearCar, MAX Digital and ACV Capital within its Marketplace Products, as well as, True360 and Data Services.
This is a rare opportunity to define the hardware strategy for a market leader transforming the automotive industry. As the Director, Hardware Engineering & Operations, you will lead ACV's effort to build at scale advanced technology products enabling AI-based solutions to further automate vehicle data acquisition and to grow the value we bring to our customers.
We are looking for a hands-on individual to oversee the engineering, production, and lifecycle management of our proprietary vehicle scanning and inspection hardware used by franchise car dealerships in the US and the specialized tools used internally by ACV’s team of 800+ vehicle inspectors. You will act as the connective tissue between R&D innovation and commercial reality, ensuring that ACV's scanning and inspection products are effective, user-friendly, reliable, and affordable.

Requirements

• Education: BSEE, BSME, or equivalent Engineering , or a related technical field is required.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience in hardware engineering and operations, with a strong mix of technical individual contribution and department-level leadership. Must have hardware design engineering experience with a strong knowledge of CAD solid modeling, and electro-mechanical systems engineering.
• B2B Commercialization: A proven track record of taking hardware products from concept to mass production in a collaborative environment with internal business units, supply partners, and customers.
• Supply Chain Expertise: Demonstrated success in the strategic oversight of the end-to-end supply chain, including contract manufacturer evaluation, vendor partnerships, and operational execution, to drive cost efficiency, quality, and timely delivery.
• Strategic & Hands-On: Ability to balance high-level strategic planning with hands-on execution and problem-solving.
• Tools and Process: Proficiency in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), ERP, and manufacturing software tools.
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand English.

Nice To Haves

• MBA is a plus.
• Technical Knowledge: Experience with video-based imaging systems and connected IoT devices is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Organizational Design: Develop and lead both internal and external resources to scale a hardware product solution for ACV with a product lifecycle management focus.
• Financial Management: Ownership of the hardware cost structure, including partnerships, CapEx and OpEx planning.
• System Architecture: Own the system-level hardware architecture, ensuring seamless integration with firmware, software, and ACV’s broader cloud ecosystem.
• Design Engineering: Lead mechanical, electrical, and quality engineering functions required for the ongoing design and launch of hardware based ACV products.
• Engineering Partnership Development: Create the right team to support the product design, launch, and manufacturing ownership of ACV hardware products.
• New Product Introduction: Develop ACV processes for effective phase-gate product development and the project management of hardware programs.
• Quality Management System: Develop rigorous reliability and test engineering/ validation processes to ensure production-ready robust hardware certified to meet applicable safety and regulatory standards.
• Vendor Evaluation & Strategy: Lead an evaluation of our current hardware development and supply-chain process and strategy to support scalable, high-quality products on time and under budget. The scope will include engineering, tooling, manufacturing, supply chain, and field support services. This role will own the management of ACV hardware strategy to End-of-Life.
• Asset Management: Create and lead the end-to-end asset management function for the deployment and distribution for all ACV hardware products and components used by customers and ACV ensuring high availability, tracking utilization, and minimizing shrinkage/loss.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Lead RCA investigations for critical field issues, implementing systemic corrective actions to improve hardware reliability.
• Technical Documentation: Oversee the creation of technical documentation, user manuals, and troubleshooting guides to empower our Customer Support and Sales Engineering teams and ensure a consistent customer experience.
• Reverse Logistics (RMA): Design and manage the support lifecycle, including RMA processes to optimize the hardware support lifecycle, reducing downtime and maintaining operational continuity.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Multiple medical plans including a high deductible, low cost health plan
• Company-sponsored (paid) Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Comprehensive optional benefits such as Dental, Vision, Supplemental Life/AD&D, Legal/ID Protection, and Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Generous paid time off options, including uncapped vacation days, the greater of 3 paid sick days or in accordance with the applicable state or local paid sick leave law, 6 paid company holidays, 2 floating holidays, parental leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, voting leave, and other forms of paid leave as required by applicable law or regulation
• Employee Stock Purchase Program with additional opportunities to earn stock in the Company
• Retirement planning through the Company’s 401(k)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director