VP of Hardware

Parallel Systems•Los Angeles, CA

8d•$250,000 - $350,000

About The Position

Parallel Systems is developing Pather, an autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicle intended to modernize freight transportation. The VP of Hardware owns the vehicle’s design and execution, leads the Hardware Engineering team, and ensures successful deployment. Reporting directly to the CEO, this senior, high-ownership role sets technical direction across the vehicle’s chassis, powertrain, braking, battery, sensors, and electrical systems. The role owns the hardware program schedule, development process, and per-vehicle cost while remaining engaged in day-to-day engineering and testing. The company seeks an experienced vehicle builder who has designed and delivered a vehicle at a startup or high-growth company and can lead new product introduction in a zero-to-one environment. The role calls for strong leadership, ownership, candor, and sound judgment in making decisions about scope, cost, and schedule. The VP of Hardware also serves on the senior leadership team, contributes to company strategy, supports customer success, and assists with fundraising.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field.
10+ years of experience in hardware engineering, including 5+ years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Proven track record designing and delivering a complete vehicle, from concept through working vehicles in the field, at a startup or high-growth company.
Experience owning whole-vehicle architecture across mechanical, electrical, battery, and control systems.
Experience building and scaling engineering teams, including hiring engineers and developing them into leaders.
Experience taking products through analysis, testing, validation, and safety certification in a regulated environment.
Ability to operate in an early-stage environment and make fast, sound decisions with incomplete information.

Nice To Haves

Engineering leadership experience at an automotive startup or similar high-velocity hardware company.
Experience with vehicle manufacturing and production.
Strong knowledge of electric powertrains and braking systems.
Experience with high-voltage systems and autonomous platforms.
Experience working with rail, heavy equipment, trucking, or other commercial vehicles.
Experience working with regulators such as the FRA or NHTSA.
Hands-on building experience outside of work, such as cars, bikes, robots, or other motorized projects.

Responsibilities

Own system architecture and hardware design for the entire vehicle, including mechanical, electrical, power electronics, battery, thermal, braking, and running gear.
Own the end-to-end hardware program schedule, report on it regularly, and engage strategically with the CEO and leadership team on planning and execution.
Lead, hire, and grow the Hardware Engineering team, setting a high bar for technical excellence and speed.
Establish the system and hardware development process for new product introduction (NPI), including design reviews and release gates.
Define and execute the vehicle verification and validation (V&V) plan, including end-of-line production checkouts.
Set the two-year hardware roadmap, including decisions about what to build, buy, and partner on.
Drive vehicle cost reductions in partnership with manufacturing, supply chain, and purchasing.
Work closely with autonomy and software engineering so the vehicle is designed as one integrated system.
Work with regulators and customers on technical requirements and safety cases.
Serve on the senior leadership team, shape company strategy, enable customer success, and support fundraising.