Director of Hardware (Robotics)

TL;DR

Director of Hardware (Robotics): Leading the hardware organization end-to-end to develop autonomous ground handling vehicles with an accent on vehicle architecture and production scaling. Focus on implementing safety-critical drive-by-wire systems and transitioning from prototype to volume manufacturing.

Location: Onsite in South San Francisco or Atlanta

Salary: $275K – $350K + Equity

Company

hirify.global is transforming ground handling with autonomy, redefining how airlines and ground service providers run day-to-day operations.

What you will do

• Own the technical direction and multi-year hardware roadmap for the vehicle platform.
• Manage a multidisciplinary hardware team across mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical engineering.
• Lead the development of a certified drive-by-wire solution meeting ISO 26262/13849 standards.
• Optimize sensor suite design and improve field reliability based on operational data.
• Manage technical relationships with suppliers and contract manufacturers for volume production.
• Conduct technical design reviews and debug complex hardware issues.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in hardware engineering for shipped physical products (robotics, vehicles, or industrial equipment).
• Deep technical expertise in both mechanical and electrical engineering.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary hardware teams and hiring senior talent.
• Track record of taking products from architecture through DFM to volume production.
• Direct experience with electromechanical actuation systems (steering, braking, drive systems).
• Must be based in or be able to work onsite in South San Francisco or Atlanta.

Nice to have

• Experience with functional-safety standards (ISO 26262, ISO 13849, IEC 61508).
• Experience with contract manufacturers at 100s-1000s units/year scale.
• Background in commercial vehicles, industrial robotics, or aerospace ground systems.
• Firmware/embedded experience or experience leading firmware engineers.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work on a real product currently in commercial operation.
• High-impact leadership role owning the vehicle platform end-to-end.
• Working on high-value problems like certified drive-by-wire for autonomous GSE.
• Equity packages offered.