Head of Vehicle Engineering

We are an early stage stealth startup with a mission to remove the pesticides currently used on US farms. We are obsessed with agriculture and believe that it is imperative for agriculture to become clean and extremely efficient if the US, and the world, is going to continue to thrive. We intend to play a major role in this transformation.

Who You Are

This is an engineering role, but we work in agriculture. Farming is dirty, tough and rugged. You must be excited to be hands‑on and in the field. You don’t have to know a lot about farming, but if this doesn’t excite you then this is probably not the job for you. If this sounds like fun, then you will fit right in.

About the Role

You will lead the architecture definition, design and delivery of our production vehicle and key custom subassemblies. This means making high‑level engineering decisions, designing novel components, managing suppliers and fabrication shops, and hiring/leading a small team of engineers. This is a hands‑on role requiring both strategic judgement and practical engineering execution in a startup environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect & System Definition:
You will make high‑level decisions on the powertrain, track systems, chassis, and overall vehicle architecture.

• Design:
Own the "make vs. buy" decisions. You will be hands‑on in CAD, designing custom parts for our novel tech (~10% of vehicle) while selecting robust off‑the‑shelf assemblies (engines, hydraulics, tracks) for the rest (about ~90% of vehicle).

• Fabrication & Supply Chain:
Manage supplier relationships, and work directly with contract fabrication shops to ensure our machines are built to spec.

• Lead the Team:
As the first engineering hire, you will set the technical culture and eventually hire/manage a team of engineers.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

• 7+ years of mechanical design experience, ideally with off‑road vehicles, construction equipment, defense mobility, or heavy machinery.

• 3+ years of management experience.

• Demonstrated startup experience (or equivalent responsibility in a small team).

• Expert proficiency in CAD (Solid Works, Fusion
360, or similar).

• Experience creating technical drawing packages and managing fabrication with external vendors.

• Willingness to travel regularly within California agricultural regions.

• Bonus:
Experience in agtech is a plus, but not required.

Location and Logistics

• Based in Bay Area / Salinas:
We work in person. However, work can occasionally be done remotely as needed.

• Travel:
Occasional travel to customer farms, supplier / fabrication partners, and for field testing is required.

What We Offer

• Salary range for this role is $140k-$210k.

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