Director, Hardware Engineering

ICON is seeking a Director, Hardware Engineering to lead the end-to-end hardware lifecycle for our advanced 3D printing robotics and manufacturing systems, encompassing both New Product Development (NPD) and Sustaining Engineering. This leader will own the architectural integrity and execution across all Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs, from initial concept and Design for Excellence (DfX) through to rigorous validation, reliable field deployment, and continuous lifecycle enhancement. As a Director, you are accountable for managing departmental strategy, budget, resource allocation, and institutionalizing high-bar engineering standards that ensure our technology is reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective.

This role is based at ICON’s Austin, TX office and reports to the VP of Technology and Products.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Engineering Leadership & Management: Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team spanning Electrical, Mechanical, and Systems Engineering disciplines. Drive excellence across both New Product Development and Sustaining functions, fostering a proactive "Design for Excellence" (DfX) culture. Ensure proper delegation of authority to 'trusted lieutenants' to remove bottlenecks and increase operational speed.
• Hardware Architecture & Development: Own the technical definition and architectural roadmap for next-generation hardware systems. Drive the execution of new product development programs from concept/spec through rigorous validation (DVT) and transition to manufacturing, ensuring alignment with aggressive quality goals (e.g., 0 critical defects).
• Reliability & Performance Tracking: Establish and own key performance indicators (KPIs) for the fleet, including Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) reduction via design and sustaining improvements.
• Engineering Change Management (ECM): Own the end-to-end Engineering Change Control process for all hardware assets (NPD and field-deployed). Lead the review, approval, and implementation of Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), ensuring rigorous impact analysis and seamless field integration.
• Closed-Loop Engineering: Create formal feedback loops between Field Operations, Sustaining Engineering, and the New Product Development (NPD) teams. Ensure that field data directly influences long-term product roadmaps to systematically improve serviceability and reliability (Defect-to-Design Feedback Loop).
• Standardization & QMS: Develop and enforce operational objectives, policies, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) procedures. Ensure compliance with Quality Management Systems (QMS) and high industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001 or equivalent).
• Cross-Functional Product Ownership: Serve as the final technical authority for hardware, partnering with Program Management, Manufacturing, and Industrial Design to manage the full hardware lifecycle. Resolve cross-functional structural conflicts to unblock critical path hardware development (e.g., the e-boom redesign).
• Operational & Financial Management: Own and manage the multi-disciplinary hardware departmental budget and resource allocation. Drive the selection and implementation of engineering and data tools (e.g., Foundry for PM&A, PLM/ERP) to establish a data-driven culture and systemic defect resolution.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in high-complexity, multidisciplinary hardware environments (Robotics, Aerospace, Automotive, or Industrial Automation).
• 5+ years of direct people management experience, including managing 'managers' and demonstrated success leading combined Electrical and Mechanical Engineering organizations.
• Deep expertise in the full hardware lifecycle, including New Product Introduction (NPI), Engineering Change Management (ECM), and configuration control. Demonstrated experience implementing Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Exceptional ability to translate complex field telemetry, technical failures, and NPD progress into actionable executive summaries for non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven track record of navigating ambiguity and building structural rigor in fast-paced, high-growth startup environments.

 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Certifications: Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt) or CRE (Certified Reliability Engineer) credentials.
• Tooling: Mastery of PLM software (e.g., Duro, Arena, Propel, Windchill) specifically for managing the ECO/ECR lifecycle and Bill of Materials (BOM) revisions.
• Systems Thinking: Experience with "Digital Twin" concepts or using cloud-based data (GCP/AWS or Palantir Foundry) to perform Predictive Maintenance and OEE analysis.
• Sustainable Engineering: A passion for ICON’s mission, including an interest in sustainable construction practices and reducing the environmental footprint of automated manufacturing.
• Networking: Knowledge of basic networking principles and industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, CANOpen, etc.).