Lead Hardware Engineer
Boulder · Boulder, CO (CO-01) · USD 165,000-218,000 · 8+ years experience · Full-time · Posted Sep 25, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 8+ years experience
- Employment
- Full-time
- Location
- Boulder · Boulder, CO (CO-01)
- Salary
- USD 165,000-218,000 · Base salary
About the role
- As the Lead Hardware Engineer for the ladar product line, you will be responsible for domain-specific detailed technical execution, hardware architecture, and engineering execution across mechanical, electrical, optical, and test disciplines.
- You will transition high-precision active electro-optical systems from early-stage prototypes and Engineering Development Units through Engineering and Manufacturing Development into scaled production.
Responsibilities
- Define the "How" of Hardware: Own domain-specific hardware architecture, component selection, physical design, and detailed mechanical, electrical, optical, and test engineering.
- Transition and Scale Production: Lead the critical transition of our hardware from low-volume, hard-to-build prototype units to a high-rate EMD production environment.
- Deliver Major Milestones: Lead hardware preparation, technical artifacts, and clear-to-build criteria for upcoming program milestones, including Hardware SRR, PDR, CDR, and Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR).
- Manage EMD & NPI Builds: Own the hardware side of New Product Introduction (NPI). Coordinate, inventory, and lead the assembly of final EDU and EMD-1 builds, ensuring they are ready for field testing and environmental Design Verification Testing (DVT).
- Design & Ruggedize Test Equipment: Architect, build, and ruggedize manufacturing and optical test equipment to ensure highly efficient, repeatable, and automated testing on the production floor.
- Define V+V Metrics: Define, implement, and track hardware Verification and Validation (V+V) metrics Lead HW to ensure absolute system reliability in extreme physical environments.
- Staffing & Collaboration: Partner closely with the Chief Engineer. Work directly with functional engineering leads to ensure your product line has sufficient, high-performing hardware engineering staffing.
- Hardware Sustainment: Own the detailed hardware Continuous Improvement (CI) roadmap, oversee the hardware Configuration Control/Change Review Board (CRB), and drive rapid resolution of hardware field issues
Requirements
- Degree in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, systems engineering, physics, or a hard science.
- 8+ years of experience developing and deploying complex electromechanical, electro-optical, or active sensing systems.
- Deep engineering skillset spanning mechanical, electrical, optical, and test disciplines, with proven experience performing system design, architecture definition, and performance modeling.
- Proven experience managing New Product Introduction (NPI), leading initial system builds, and managing hardware scaling or sustainment at scale.
- Strong track record of leading high-performance, cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Willingness to travel to test sites and manufacturing facilities as needed.
- Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.
Preferred qualifications
- Direct experience defining, designing, and testing active optical/imaging systems, Ladar/Lidar, or high-precision pointing architectures.
- Proven success transitioning hardware from low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) / rapid prototyping environments to high-reliability, qualified EMD and production programs.
- Strong hands-on experience with environmental testing standards (thermal, shock, vibration) and using advanced design, simulation, and optical test equipment.
- Familiarity with supply chain coordination, inventory management, and defining "clear to build" metrics for complex assemblies.
Benefits
- Highly competitive equity grants
- Top-tier benefits for full-time employees, supporting health, recovery, and whatever comes next
Skills
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Optical Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Physics
- Ladar
- Lidar
- New Product Introduction (NPI)
- Design Verification Testing (DVT)
