Director, Hardware Engineering

Cricut® empowers people to make and personalize almost anything—from custom cards and apparel to everyday items and home décor. Our smart cutting machines, design apps, and materials make creativity easy and accessible for everyone. We believe everyone is born creative, and our mission is to put the power of handmade into the hands of all. With a passionate community of Makers around the world, Cricut helps turn inspiration into real, tangible creations—one project at a time.

Let’s make.

Job Description

Job Description

Cricut is looking for a  Director of Hardware Engineering  who understands what it takes to make great products. This individual will be technically competent, passionate about the consumer experience and proficient at product development. You will be adept at developing a collaborative and highly competent engineering team where engineering creativity and passion can thrive. As a leader at Cricut you will be involved in and understand the details, but have a broader perspective to help identify and mitigate risks and issues that could inhibit our various projects and teams.

To be successful you will be a high performer with a rare and specific skill set who will thrive in a fast-paced and demanding environment. Your ability to think critically, lead through intellect, bring out the best in your team, and to partner across a wide variety of functions at Cricut to drive change in a complex setting will be essential to the rollout of our offerings to the market.

Key responsibilities include:

• Help set and manage priorities among competing projects
• Hire engineers and project managers that are humble, hungry, and smart, and develop them into high performing teams that imbue the culture of Cricut into our products.
• Mentor the team in key aspects of product development including: Risk Assessment, Project Planning, Troubleshooting & Root Cause Identification and Incident Management.
• Assist in developing the technology and product roadmap.
• Participate in identification and evaluation of new manufacturing partners
• Assist in the development of annual budgets
• Partner with ID, UX, Product Management, SW and other organizations in the successful design and development of new products
• Work hand-in-hand with Product Management throughout the development process, understanding the user needs and product objectives, while making sure they understand the development status, issues and challenges for the product
• Provide technical input regarding new and evolving product opportunities
• Research and contribute ideas for new opportunities to help people lead creative lives
• Help to maintain a database of product and tooling costs that can be used as a benchmark against future development efforts. 
• Help project teams to work through critical issues and develop alternative actions to overcome the issues and maintain the schedule.
• Be involved in the prototyping, pre-production and mass production of new or transferred products.
• Cultivate the Cricut Values both within the engineering team and throughout the organization

Qualifications

• As a minimum, must have a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering strongly preferred with a working knowledge of electro-mechanical systems
• Strong technical aptitude and hands on management experience of a large team
• A proven track record as a team leader on complex projects
• The ideal candidate will have experience in consumer product development.
• 5+ years in project management related to product development
• Strong communication skills, team work and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Adept at Microsoft Project, MS Excel. Proficiency in Minitab highly desirable
• The ability to understand, apply, and mentor engineers in statistical process control methods is highly desirable including CPKs, T-Tests, X-Bar/R charts, DOEs, etc.

Additional Information

We’ve Got You Covered

At Cricut, we take care of our people. Enjoy competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, a 401(k) match, generous PTO, tuition reimbursement, and a yearly lifestyle stipend to support your wellness and passions. You’ll also receive exclusive employee discounts—and best of all, you’ll be surrounded by some of the most talented, creative, and curious minds out there.

A Quick Note Before You Apply…

Cricut is in an exciting chapter of transformation. We’re evolving fast—refining our strategy, growing our teams, and raising the bar across everything we do. This is an incredible opportunity for the right kind of person—but it’s not for everyone.

We’re looking for A-players—people who thrive in dynamic environments, turn challenges into momentum, and consistently deliver their best work. If that sounds like you, read on.

Here’s what makes someone a great fit for this role (and for this moment at Cricut):

· You move with urgency. You don’t wait for perfect clarity to act—you start, learn, and adjust.
· You set high standards. You take ownership, deliver quality, and hold yourself accountable.
· You stay focused when things move fast. You prioritize what matters most and tune out the noise.
· You collaborate like a pro. You elevate others, communicate clearly, and bring a low-ego, high-output energy.
· You embrace AI as part of your toolkit. From idea exploration to data analysis and creative problem-solving, you leverage AI to accelerate innovation and amplify impact—because technology and creativity go hand-in-hand here.

One More Thing (It’s a Big One)

This role is in-office at least 4-5 days per week. We believe real collaboration, innovation, and culture are built face-to-face. If you’re energized by working alongside smart, kind, creative people—and love those hallway conversations that spark the next great idea—you’ll feel right at home.

If you’re looking for a fully remote role, this may not be the right fit. But if you’re excited by challenge, purpose, and building something better—let’s make something amazing together.

Relocation Statement:

· This position is eligible for relocation assistance.

What to Do Next: Please attach your resume, cover letter and/or include links to your portfolio or other social presence. If you want to show your super powers in other ways – include that information too. You can be sure that Cricut® is an employer who values individuality, equality and diversity, so tell us what you’re all about. If you are a Maker or a DIY enthusiast, whether you think you are a good one or not, we would love to hear about it when you send us your information.

Cricut® is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This position is contingent on successfully completing a Criminal Background Check upon hire. Cricut participates in E-Verify.