VP, Engineering

Automated Industrial Robotics Rochester Hills•San Jose, CA

1d•$250,000 - $280,000•Onsite

About The Position

AIR is seeking an experienced engineering leader to guide our Silicon Valley technical team. We develop complex custom equipment from early concept through first article build and customer deployment. You will work closely with customers to understand their needs, help shape equipment concepts, manage technical risk, and see the resulting systems operating in our customers' factories —or in their customers' factories. We are looking for someone with a track record of leading strong engineering teams in a fast-paced technical environment. You should have the technical credibility to work effectively with experienced engineers and customers, while also knowing when to step back and let capable technical leaders lead. Experience developing complex capital equipment is important, and semiconductor equipment experience is strongly preferred. Fast forward two years. You have strengthened an already capable engineering team and developed greater depth in the technical leaders who create the next generation of machines. You have successfully navigated ambiguous customer requirements and helped the team develop multiple new first-of-kind systems. You lead collaboratively, giving experienced technical leaders room to thrive while providing the direction, judgment, and accountability they need to succeed. Sales considers you a valuable partner, and customers see you as a trusted advisor. You are working effectively across AIR SV and the broader AIR organization, helping shape both our technical capabilities and the future direction of the business.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
15+ years of engineering experience, including significant responsibility for complex engineered systems or capital equipment.
At least 5 years of leadership experience managing engineering teams, managers, or multidisciplinary technical organizations.
Experience developing complex capital equipment, either as an equipment manufacturer or working closely with end users of production equipment.
Experience with multidisciplinary systems involving mechanical, electrical, controls, and software engineering.
Strong technical judgment and the ability to participate credibly in architecture reviews, technical risk discussions, and customer conversations.
Experience operating in environments where requirements may initially be incomplete, evolving, or technically ambiguous.
Ability to balance technical performance, schedule, cost, risk, and customer requirements.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

Significant experience in semiconductor equipment.
Experience developing semiconductor capital equipment, subsystems, automation, or equipment used by semiconductor manufacturers.
A strong network within Silicon Valley and the broader semiconductor equipment ecosystem.
Experience supporting technical sales, proposals, and early customer concept development.

Responsibilities

Build the Next Generation of Technical Leaders & System Architects: Create more depth within the staff to develop creative system architectures. Develop engineers with the capability to translate ambiguous customer requirements into effective machine architectures. Strengthen system-level capability in concept development, technical risk identification and management, and creative solution communication. Create opportunities and paths for emerging architects to develop complex concepts. Supplement internal development with targeted hiring with a focus on precision motion, vacuum systems and general knowledge of semiconductor equipment and processes.
Build Scalable & Flexible Engineering Capabilities: Develop a strategy and establish partners that balances permanent staffing, consultants, contractors and AIR cross-business unit resources. Ensure AIR SV has sufficient engineering capacity to support backlog and changing project demand without carrying excessive overhead. Build and manage a strong network of engineering consultants and flexible resources. Align resource planning with backlog, forecast, schedule requirements and margin expectations.
Support Sales & Strategic Customer Engagement: Support Sales during strategic, early engagement discussions to understand customer’s needs and the fit with AIR’s capabilities. Act as a trusted advisor and represent the technical depth AIR provides. Participate in proposal reviews and assess technical risk, staffing requirements, schedule feasibility, re-use potential and development requirements. Help identify opportunities that fit AIR SV’s technical capabilities (and business model) and those that may fit better with other AIR business units. Communicate technical risks and trade-offs to customers in a way that builds confidence and supports commercial decisions. Support the development of credible budgetary concepts and estimates when complete project definition is vague or not available.
Lead Engineering Through AIR Enterprise Integration: Implement AIR enterprise engineering standards and processes while preserving the speed, flexibility, and engineering practices that are critical to AIR SV’s customers. Manage change within the internal team by explaining changes in practical technical and business terms rather than top-down compliance. Represent AIR Silicon Valley as a practical and constructive contributor to broader AIR initiatives.