Director of Hardware Engineering

Job Overview:

As Director of Hardware Engineering, you’ll lead the end-to-end delivery of hardware platforms, translating product requirements into robust, manufacturable systems. You’ll collaborate across electronics, photonics, mechanical, and materials engineering, ensuring designs are reliable, testable, and production-ready.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for someone who values clarity, collaboration, and well-balanced decision-making.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Guide hardware development from initial definition through pilot builds to volume production.

• Own system-level hardware architecture across electrical, photonic, mechanical, and materials domains.

• Translate product requirements into clear hardware plans and milestones.

• Ensure designs meet testability, manufacturability, reliability, and cost targets.

• Support delivery of sample systems for customer evaluation.

• Partner with Firmware and System Test teams for smooth bring-up and validation.

• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Procurement on supplier engagement and production planning.

• Communicate progress, risks, and options clearly to senior leadership.

• Foster a culture of clarity, accountability, and steady execution.

What We’re Looking For:

• Senior experience guiding hardware from requirements to production.

• Track record of delivering PCB, module, or system-level products in real-world use.

• Strong grasp of hardware design, system integration, testability, and reliability.

• Experience working closely with manufacturing partners and supply chains.

• Ability to balance technical depth with timelines and commercial considerations.

• Comfortable making decisions, while sharing context and seeking input.

• Based in the UK or willing to relocate, with regular presence in Oxford.

Even Better If You:

• Have contributed to high-performance networking or switching hardware.

• Have supported transitions from prototype to volume production.

• Bring experience from deep-tech or hardware-led growth environments.

• Have worked closely with firmware and system test teams during bring-up.

• Enjoy working in environments where priorities evolve and communication is key.

This is an opportunity to guide hardware delivery in a company building foundational technology for AI infrastructure. If you value collaboration, technical rigor, and turning complex systems into reliable products, we’d love to hear from you.