Vice President of Engineering

Our client is a venture-backed, early-stage deep-tech company developing next-generation energy systems that integrate advanced physics, complex hardware, and scalable infrastructure.

Backed by experienced founders and technical leaders, the company is tackling a fundamentally new approach to energy generation, with a focus on bringing novel technology from concept to real-world deployment.

The Opportunity

We are supporting our client in hiring a Head / VP of Engineering to lead execution of a first-of-kind hardware platform from detailed design through to initial deployment.

This individual will be responsible for translating a highly ambitious technical vision into:

• A structured engineering program
• A high-performing team
• Fully functioning hardware systems

This role sits at the intersection of:

• Advanced physical systems
• Complex hardware integration
• Real-world deployment

What You’ll Do

Engineering Execution & Program Leadership

• Own end-to-end technical execution across multiple engineering domains
• Drive the master engineering schedule, including:
• Critical path management
• Subsystem dependencies
• Program risk identification
• Lead cross-functional design reviews across all engineering disciplines
• Oversee progression from:
• Concept → Prototype → Testing → Deployment

Systems Integration

• Lead integration across multiple subsystems, ensuring alignment across:
• Interfaces
• Performance targets
• Operational constraints
• Drive system-level decision-making across engineering functions
• Ensure effective coordination between hardware, systems, and integration teams

Team Building & Leadership

• Build and scale a multidisciplinary engineering organization
• Own hiring strategy and organizational structure
• Recruit senior engineering talent across multiple technical areas
• Establish a high-performance culture focused on:
• Ownership
• Execution
• Velocity

Vendor & External Partnerships

• Lead technical evaluation and selection of key suppliers
• Own technical specifications for major hardware components
• Manage relationships with external engineering partners and vendors

Engineering Standards & Quality

• Establish and maintain engineering processes for:
• Design documentation
• Configuration control
• Change management
• Balance rigor with speed—ensuring quality without slowing execution
• Champion a build-and-test approach, using real-world data to inform decisions

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of engineering experience in complex hardware environments
• Proven track record of delivering first-of-kind or highly complex systems
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations