R&D Hardware Manager (Laboratory Automation)

Location: Santa Clara, California, United States; hybrid schedule with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote

Salary: $180,000–$281,250 per year, plus eligibility for bonus, stock, and benefits

Company

hirify.global develops automation hardware platforms through its Automated Productivity Solutions business to improve laboratory productivity.

What you will do

• Lead the strategy, roadmap, development, delivery, and lifecycle management of automation hardware platforms.
• Direct development of liquid handling, sample preparation, plate handling, and integrated automation workcells.
• Manage end-to-end hardware programs from concept through commercialization while balancing cost, quality, schedule, and performance.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, electrical, fluidics, motion control, and systems engineering.
• Partner with Product Management, Services, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial organizations.
• Drive manufacturability, reliability, cost reduction, sustaining engineering, obsolescence management, and production transfer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in hardware product development.
• 3+ years of experience leading engineering organizations and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience delivering complex automation systems from concept through commercialization.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering governance, and technical tradeoff decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead global, cross-functional programs.

Nice to have

• Experience with laboratory automation, robotics, liquid handling, or analytical instrumentation.
• Expertise in electromechanical system design and integration, motion control, sensors, fluidics, and automation architectures.
• Experience with modular design, component reuse, regulated scientific environments, Model-Based Systems Engineering, and simulation tools.
• Familiarity with software-enabled hardware platforms, connected laboratory systems, AI-enabled automation, or autonomous laboratory technologies.

Culture & Benefits

• Day shift with a full-time weekly schedule and no stated end date.
• 10% travel required.
• Eligibility for bonus, stock, and benefits.
• Work environment focused on innovation, accountability, execution excellence, and customer focus.
• Inclusive, merit-based workplace committed to equal employment opportunity.