Vice President of Engineering

Found Industries•Cambridge, MA

11h•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Engineering will lead Found’s engineering organization and own the scale-up of Found’s technologies from laboratory and sub-scale systems through pilot, demonstration, and commercial deployment. This role is accountable for engineering across the full project lifecycle, including translating R&D into system requirements, developing integrated process and equipment designs, coordinating with EPC and other engineering partners, supporting fabrication and construction, and carrying systems through commissioning, startup, and operation. A central responsibility will be building the bridge between Found’s scientific and R&D capabilities and the robust industrial systems required for commercial deployment. The ideal candidate has firsthand experience scaling first-of-a-kind industrial technology and understands that successful engineering extends well beyond issuing drawings. They bring strong technical judgment, disciplined engineering practices, effective leadership, and a willingness to stay close to the hardware, the team, and project execution.

Requirements

B.S. in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field; advanced degree is a strong plus.
15 plus years engineering leadership experience in industrial technology, heavy industry, process industries, or complex hardware systems.
Demonstrated experience scaling technology from pilot or demonstration systems toward commercial deployment.
Hands-on experience with the design, construction, commissioning, startup, or operation of industrial facilities.
Experience working with EPC firms, engineering contractors, equipment suppliers, and fabricators.
Experience building and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Strong understanding of integrated process systems, systems engineering, and interfaces between multiple unit operations.
Ability to translate R&D and emerging technology into safe, reliable, and commercially viable engineered systems.
Strong technical judgment, organization, communication, and risk-management skills.
Safety-conscious, proactive, and effective in a fast-paced startup environment.
Ability to work full-time on-site in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Nice To Haves

First-of-a-kind pilot, demonstration, or commercial project experience.
Mining, mineral processing, metals refining, hydrometallurgy, or chemical-process industry experience.
Experience implementing new technology within operating industrial facilities.
Familiarity with industrial equipment certification, UL/CSA requirements, or field labeling.
Prior experience in a hardware or industrial technology startup.

Responsibilities

Lead Found Industries’ engineering organization and cross-functional technical teams to scale technologies from R&D through pilot and commercial deployment.
Partner with R&D to translate experimental results into system requirements, process designs, equipment specifications, and integrated engineered systems.
Lead development and integration of complex industrial systems spanning process equipment, electrochemical systems, controls, utilities, and balance of plant.
Own engineering execution across the full project lifecycle, including design, procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, startup, and performance validation.
Manage relationships with EPC firms, engineering contractors, equipment suppliers, and fabricators while maintaining strong internal technical ownership.
Establish fit-for-purpose engineering processes, including design reviews, document and change control, technical risk management, and design verification.
Ensure designs appropriately balance safety, performance, reliability, operability, cost, schedule, constructability, and maintainability.
Build and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary engineering team and develop a culture of technical rigor, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Partner with R&D, Operations, and Commercial leadership to define development priorities, technology readiness, resource requirements, and deployment plans.
Represent Found’s technical capabilities and scale-up strategy with customers, industrial partners, government stakeholders, and other external parties.