Head of Hardware
About The Position
CYVL is seeking a Head of Hardware to lead the transition of their capture hardware from a hand-built sensor to a contract-manufactured platform. This role involves defining and driving the hardware strategy for current and future generations of their sensor technology, taking it from prototype through its first contract-manufactured production run. The Head of Hardware will be responsible for building a lean team, managing vendor selection, the bill of materials, supply chain, and the contract manufacturing relationship, ensuring cost, quality, security, and reliability for national deployment. This position is crucial for establishing a durable hardware foundation for CYVL's national infrastructure data layer.
Requirements
- 10+ years of hardware engineering experience, including time leading hardware teams or programs.
- Has personally shipped at least one hardware product at scale, from design through high-volume production and into the field.
- Proven track record taking hardware or sensor products from prototype to scaled, contract-manufactured production.
- Deep experience owning vendor selection, BOM management, supply chain, and contract manufacturing relationships.
- Experience leading and growing cross-functional hardware teams across embedded, firmware, electrical, and mechanical disciplines.
- Strong systems judgment on build-vs-buy and COTS strategy, with a bias toward riding the cost curve rather than moving to custom builds before volume justifies it.
- Hands-on familiarity with sensor stacks (LiDAR, cameras, GNSS/IMU) and edge compute platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson/Orin.
- Bachelor's or higher in electrical, mechanical, computer, or systems engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
Nice To Haves
- Experience deploying hardware into government, defense-adjacent, or otherwise regulated and security-sensitive environments.
- Background in physical AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or mobile mapping.
- Familiarity with edge anonymization, data pipelines, and how capture hardware feeds a downstream data platform.
Responsibilities
- Own Cyvl's hardware strategy and roadmap: platform architecture, sensor integration, modular design, the build-vs-buy posture, and the generational roadmap beyond V5.
- Lead vendor selection and BOM component procurement, and own all vendor relationships and supply chain timelines through to production.
- Stand up and manage the contract manufacturing relationship, engaging the CM partner early and locking the first production run.
- Build and lead a best-in-class lean hardware team, delivering rock-solid firmware and an unparalleled hardware UX.
- Drive the scaled BOM cost down to at-scale targets while protecting quality, security, and reliability for national government deployment.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) with immediate vesting
- Generous PTO, paid parental leave, and flexible work options
- Annual professional development stipend
- Team events, referral bonuses, and a collaborative, growth-focused culture
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
