Head of Hardware

Head of Hardware (Robotics / Advanced Systems)

Advanced Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Paris, France

Airbotics Talent are partnered with a well-funded European robotics company developing a new generation of advanced autonomous systems.

We are looking for a Head of Hardware to take complete ownership of hardware development across the platform, while building the engineering team and prototyping capability around them.

This is not a purely managerial position. You will remain deeply hands-on with design, simulation, materials, prototyping and hardware development while establishing the technical standards and capability required to take complex physical systems from early prototype through industrialisation and production.

The Role

You will own hardware development end-to-end, from early concepts and simulation through detailed design, prototype build, testing, iteration and production readiness.

This includes:

• Owning the mechanical and structural architecture of complex autonomous systems
• Developing concepts and detailed mechanical designs using 3D CAD
• Selecting materials and manufacturing processes appropriate to performance, weight, durability and production requirements
• Using simulation and engineering analysis to validate designs and inform key technical decisions
• Performing structural and finite element analysis (FEA) across components and assemblies
• Rapidly designing, building and iterating physical prototypes
• Taking hardware through assembly, integration, testing and design validation
• Establishing hands-on prototyping capability across 3D printing, machining, composites and mechanical assembly
• Working closely with electronics, embedded software and autonomy engineers on complete system integration
• Designing hardware for manufacturability, assembly, reliability and production scale
• Developing supplier and manufacturing relationships as products transition from prototype into production
• Establishing hardware engineering processes, design reviews, documentation and configuration standards
• Building and leading a multidisciplinary hardware team, including mechanical, simulation and prototyping capability

You will operate as a player-coach: technically close to the hardware and personally involved in solving difficult engineering problems, while recruiting and leading the team responsible for developing future generations of the platform.

The Person

This role is suited to a hardware engineering leader who has personally designed and built complex physical systems and wants to remain close to engineering.

You are likely to have:

• 7+ years of hardware, mechanical or product engineering experience within robotics, aerospace, space, automotive, defense or another complex hardware environment
• Strong hands-on mechanical design and 3D CAD capability
• Experience developing complex electromechanical products or robotic systems from concept through physical prototype and testing
• Strong understanding of materials selection, manufacturing processes and structural design
• Experience using engineering simulation and analysis to support hardware development
• Strong knowledge of structural analysis and FEA
• Practical experience building and iterating prototypes using processes such as machining, 3D printing, composites and mechanical assembly
• Experience taking hardware from prototype through design validation and towards repeatable production
• Strong understanding of DFM/DFA and designing complex hardware with manufacturing scale in mind
• Experience working closely with electronics, embedded software and other multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Previous experience leading engineers and building high-performing technical teams

Experience with advanced simulation, fluid dynamics, harsh-environment hardware, advanced composites or highly constrained robotic platforms would be particularly advantageous.

This role is unlikely to be a fit if:

• Your recent experience has moved entirely away from hands-on hardware engineering
• Your background is primarily programme or engineering management without strong design and development experience
• You have not personally taken complex hardware from CAD and analysis through physical prototype, testing and iteration
• Your experience is primarily with mature products rather than developing new hardware from first principles
• You have limited exposure to materials, manufacturing processes or prototype construction
• You are looking for a purely strategic or people-management leadership role

Why Join?

• Own the hardware architecture of a completely new generation of autonomous systems
• Design and build new robotic platforms from first principles
• Establish the hardware engineering and prototyping capability from the ground up
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary hardware team as the organisation scales
• Remain deeply hands-on while operating at leadership level
• Work across mechanical engineering, simulation, materials, electronics, embedded software and autonomy
• Take complex hardware from early prototypes through industrialisation and production
• Join a well-funded European deep-tech company at a formative stage of growth

This position is based in Paris and requires regular hands-on access to hardware, prototyping and engineering facilities. Relocation support is available.

The search is international, with our client interested in exceptional European engineering talent currently based across Europe, the US and other global technology hubs who would consider relocating to Paris.

Our client is looking to make this hire immediately.

Airbotics Talent are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities. All candidates are assessed solely on suitability for our clients’ requirements without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history or marital status.