Lead Hardware Engineer Buffalo, NY

Engineering Lead Hardware Engineer

Location:

Buffalo, NY, USA

The Lead Hardware Engineer position is to drive the success of the Hardware Engineering Team by providing leadership, mentorship, and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability. This role is responsible for meeting the team’s Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and ensuring alignment with company goals through effective process development and implementation. The Lead Hardware Engineer will oversee product development, from concept to production, while ensuring quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Additionally, the position requires strong technical leadership, effective collaboration with cross‑functional teams, and a focus on innovation to maintain market leadership.

• Environment:
  • Primarily an office environment, with occasional work in labs or production facilities.
  • May require visits to manufacturing sites, vendor locations, or customer facilities.
  • Work is typically conducted in a climate‑controlled indoor setting.
• Exposures Encountered:
  • Possible exposure to noise from machinery or testing equipment in lab or manufacturing settings.
  • Limited exposure to hazardous materials, following safety protocols during testing or product development phases.
  • Potential exposure to moderate heat, cold, or dust when visiting manufacturing or outdoor facilities.
• Essential
  
  Physical Requirements:
  
  
  • The role requires extended periods of sitting, typing, and using a computer.
  • Occasional standing, walking, bending, or stooping during inspections, lab work, or on‑site evaluations.
  • Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling small components during prototype evaluations.
• Physical Effort / Lifting
  :
  • Sedentary to light physical effort, typically involving lifting up to 20 pounds.
  • Occasional lifting of lab equipment or prototype parts, generally not exceeding 20 pounds.
• Work Schedule:
  • Standard business hours with flexibility for occasional extended hours during critical project phases.
  • Rarely required to work weekends or nights, unless meeting tight project deadlines or resolving urgent issues.
  • On‑call availability may be required occasionally to address urgent technical problems or support production issues.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Moderate travel, estimated at 10–20% of the time, including visits to manufacturing sites, vendor facilities, or customer locations.
  • Occasional international travel may be required, depending on project needs and vendor locations.
• Emergency Staff Designations:
  • The position may be designated as essential staff during critical project phases or in the event of a significant production issue.
  • Expected to be available for rapid response in emergencies that impact product quality, safety, or compliance.

• Leadership and Mentorship:
  • Hire, onboard, and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team, cultivating a pipeline of talent through structured mentorship programs, continuous learning opportunities, and career development initiatives.
• Foster a High‑Performing Culture:
  • Cultivate a results‑driven, collaborative culture that emphasizes innovation, ownership, and accountability, encouraging engineers to confidently take initiative and lead projects.
• OKRs and Process Development:
  • Drive the achievement of the Hardware Engineering Team’s OKRs by strategically aligning team goals with the company’s broader objectives, ensuring clarity and purpose across all initiatives.
• Process Implementation:
  • Design and implement robust processes for knowledge management, cross‑functional rotations, and exposure to all technical facets, enhancing team agility and operational resilience.
• Product Development and Support:
  • Lead the full product development lifecycle, from ideation and validation to production and iteration, ensuring that all design changes and improvements meet or exceed industry standards and customer expectations.
• Quality and Compliance:
  • Ensure that all products meet rigorous quality, delivery, and compliance standards, while driving cost efficiency and enhancing customer satisfaction across the product portfolio.
• Technical Leadership and Representation:
  • Act as the technical authority for…