Hardware Engineering Manager

We are seeking an experienced Hardware Engineering Manager to take strategic ownership of our hardware portfolio and devise and execute the strategy for scaling our hardware solutions. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you will operate with significant autonomy: you will own the full product lifecycle from EVT through to MP, devise the hardware roadmap and system architecture, establish and embed world‑class engineering processes, and take ownership of our Contract Manufacturer relationships and global supply chain strategy.

You will independently lead and mentor a Hardware team of three, holding full accountability for their development, performance, and delivery. You will challenge the status quo, identify opportunities to improve how we engineer and manufacture our hardware, and act as the ambassador for the hardware function across Winnow. You will translate our longer‑term product vision into actionable tactical plans, and execute these plans with little guidance, escalating strategically where needed.

Reporting to the company Founder, you will make critical decisions around design direction, manufacturing partnerships, and supply chain strategy, while staying hands‑on in the lab., Strategic Hardware Leadership & Product Lifecycle

• Devise and execute the hardware roadmap and system architecture, independently prioritising development efforts and identifying where to invest R&D resources to scale active units into the thousands
• Own the full product lifecycle end-to-end-from EVT through DVT, PVT, and MP - making tactical decisions about design trade‑offs, cost reduction, and functionality without requiring approval on standard execution
• Lead and mentor the Hardware team of three with full accountability for their performance, development, and delivery; proactively coach them through the complete hardware development process and empower them to solve problems independently
• Establish and embed new engineering processes - such as job pack release protocols, version control systems for PCBA design, and design change management - that raise standards and scale across the organisation
• Drive new product development from conception to field deployment, aggressively reducing landed costs whilst adding functionality and improving reliability

• Take ownership of the Contract Manufacturer (CM) bid process and CM relationship strategy across domestic and overseas vendors, making independent decisions on vendor selection and negotiation with strategic input from finance and operations as needed
• Establish and manage CM relationships end-to-end, overseeing PCBA manufacturing, full box‑builds, comprehensive testing regimes, and quality assurance; challenge CM performance and drive continuous improvement
• Build and execute a global supply chain strategy, identifying technology partners, assessing component suitability, negotiating commercial terms, and managing warranty and support contracts independently
• Implement and evolve manufacturing best practices-including rigorous stock control, handling procedures, quality control, and traceability-establishing these as the standard across all manufacturing partners

• Navigate and independently manage global compliance testing and certification processes, including RF, EMC, and Safety standards (CE, UL, CSA, MET); own responsibility for maintaining and updating our compliance roadmap as products evolve
• Collaborate with software engineering teams to integrate hardware with operating systems, managing edge device configurations and firmware operations; challenge technical assumptions and propose creative solutions where integration challenges arise
• Establish and own a robust failure analysis framework for hardware returns, utilising serial number tracking and failure mode data to drive continuous improvement and prevent recurrence
• Engage in hands‑on lab work when necessary-prototyping, testing, debugging, and PCBA re‑work-bringing practical engineering insight to team decisions and acting as a technical problem‑solver
• Act as the ambassador for the hardware function…