VP of Hardware

Our Mission

SPAN is enabling electrification for all ⚡

We are a mission‑driven company designing, building, and deploying products that electrify the built environment, reduce carbon emissions, and slow the effects of climate change.

• Decarbonization is the process to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, from entering our atmosphere.

• Electrification is the process of replacing fossil fuel appliances that run on gas or oil with all‑electric upgrades for a cleaner way to power our lives.

• Enabling homes and vehicles powered by clean energy.

• Making electrification upgrades possible.

• Building more resilient homes with reliable backup.

• Designing a flexible and distributed electrical grid.

The Role

The VP of Hardware will lead our hardware engineering function, driving innovation, development, certification and execution of cutting‑edge hardware solutions as we scale our product offering. This executive will be responsible for building and scaling a world‑class multidisciplinary hardware organization, including electrical, mechanical, reliability, test, and certification teams.

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in complex electrical systems with heavy software integration, ideally in the energy, power electronics, or smart device industries. They bring a proven track record of delivering reliable, certified products at scale and thrive in environments that demand both innovation and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
- Define and drive the hardware vision, strategy, and execution roadmap in alignment with overall company goals.
- Build, lead, and mentor a high‑performing, multidisciplinary team across electrical, mechanical, test, and reliability engineering.
- Partner closely with software, product, operations, and supply chain leaders to ensure seamless integration across disciplines.

• Product Development & Execution
- Oversee full product lifecycle from concept through production, ensuring designs meet performance, cost, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.
- Establish best‑in‑class design, validation, and verification processes for complex electrical products.
- Drive continuous improvement in development processes, design practices, and quality systems.

• Compliance & Reliability
- Ensure all hardware meets rigorous certification, compliance, and safety requirements (UL, CE, FCC, NEC, IEC, etc.).
- Champion product reliability, durability, and long‑term performance in real‑world environments.
- Implement robust testing protocols, accelerated life testing, and root‑cause failure analysis.

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Partner with software engineering to enable seamless hardware‑software integration and embedded systems design.
- Work with operations and supply chain to ensure scalable, cost‑effective production and smooth product launches.
- Collaborate with product management to align hardware capabilities with customer needs and market opportunities.

• Innovation & Thought Leadership
- Stay ahead of industry trends in energy, electrification, and smart device technologies.
- Represent the company in technical discussions with partners, regulators, and industry bodies.
- Drive IP strategy and protect key innovations.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field;
Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.

• 15+ years of experience in hardware engineering, with at least 10 years in a senior leadership role across multiple hardware disciplines.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate at both strategic and hands‑on levels. Expertise in product reliability engineering and driving high‑quality standards.

• Proven track record of successfully bringing hardware products to market.

• Strong understanding of hardware design processes, manufacturing, and supply chain management.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Experience with regulatory compliance and quality standards in hardware development.

• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.

Life at SPAN

Headquartered in San Francisco’s vibrant SoMa neighborhood, we are an…