Head of Hardware Product Design - San Francisco

Hardware Product Design Leader

Plaud is building the next generation intelligence infrastructure and interfaces to capture, extract, and utilize intelligence from what people say, hear, see, and think.

Plaud is a bootstrapped, skyrocketing, profitable company with a $250M revenue run rate achieved in just three years. Define the next-gen paradigm for human-AI interaction. Gain exposure to cutting-edge AI for Pro tools and play a direct role in our global expansion. Work with passionate teammates who value innovation, collaboration, and customer success. Grow your career in a culture that champions continuous learning and fast career development. Market-competitive compensation, global exposure, and a vibrant, creativity-fueled work atmosphere.

For the past 15 years, the smartphone has defined personal computing. The next decade will be different. AI will reshape how we interact with technology — and that means new devices, new interfaces, and new product categories. At Plaud, we are building AI-native hardware.

Not hardware with AI features — but hardware designed from the ground up for AI. We believe future devices will be: ambient, context-aware, deeply personal. As we aim to establish a Hardware Product Design Center in San Francisco, we are looking for a leader who aspires to define the next generation of AI-native hardware.

Define the Next Generation of AI Hardware. You will work with the founding team to define new device categories such as AI wearables, AI companion devices, next-generation intelligent hardware. You will drive the process from concept → design → prototype → product.

Build a World-Class Design Team. You will build and lead a rocketship team including Industrial Design (ID), UX/Interaction Design, User Research, HMI, Hardware Prototyping. Our goal is not just a design team — but a product innovation lab.

Create New Hardware Experiences. You will lead the design of hardware form factors, interaction models, AI + hardware experiences, rapid prototype iterations. Working closely with engineering, AI, and product teams.

Skills, qualifications and experience we look for: 8+ years experience in hardware product design or product management. Deep understanding of wearable devices with hands-on product design experience. Cross-functional leadership experience, either as a product design squad lead and/or as a people manager.

Experience We Love: Experience designing or defining products such as AI glasses, smart watches, smart rings, smart earbuds/headphones, smart speakers, smartphones. Or experience working on XR/AR, ambient computing, AI hardware.

What We Value the Most: We especially value candidates who have proven experience designing or defining breakthrough products in smart hardware or AI hardware. You should also have a strong methodological understanding of at least one of the following areas: Product Definition, User Research, Human–Machine Interaction (HMI). We value leaders who bring clear thinking frameworks and product philosophy, not just execution experience.

Why This Role Is Unique: This is a rare opportunity. You are not just designing a product. You are helping define the hardware platform for the AI era. You will: build a new design center in San Francisco, explore new computing paradigms with AI researchers and engineers, create products that define the next generation of intelligent devices.

What we offer:

• Meaningful Ownership An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that gives a real stake in Plaud's long-term success.
• High-Impact Environment Work in a fast-moving, product-driven environment where your ideas directly shape the future of AI productivity.
• Comprehensive Health & Retirement Benefits Top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, supported by a generous employer subsidy, plus a 401(k) retirement plan with company matching for full-time employees.
• Time Off & Workplace Benefits Unlimited PTO, plus 13 paid holidays, 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all parents, a hybrid work model with a minimum of three in-office days per week, and access to high-quality office snacks, drinks, and equipment.
• Cutting-Edge AI Tools for Productivity Access to best-in-class AI tools, including Cursor, GPT models, Gemini, Claude, and other frontier AI systems to maximize engineering and execution efficiency.
• Best-in-Class Equipment Choice of top-spec laptops, high-performance workstation setups, and cutting-edge Plaud devices for all new hires.
• Team & Culture Annual company offsites, team events, and a culture that values craftsmanship, ownership, and velocity.