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Director of Hardware at Zone 5 Technologies
San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaFull-timeEngineeringPosted 22 days ago
Apply with PipelineAbout the Role
<div class="content-intro"><p>At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.</p>
<p>We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.</p></div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 1">Position Summary</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":240,"335559739":0}"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Director of Hardware leads Zone 5’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering functions, developing world-class hardware capabilities and ensuring disciplined, high-velocity execution across all programs. This role owns the strategic direction, functional excellence, and organizational development of both ME and EE teams while partnering closely with Programs, Systems Engineering, and Manufacturing to deliver integrated aerospace systems.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">You will be accountable for building the people, processes, and architectures that enable Zone 5 to design, integrate, and produce hardware that is safe, reliable, manufacturable, and rapidly deployable.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 1">Responsibilities</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":240,"335559739":0}"> </span></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead, mentor, and develop Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Managers and their teams.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Set the strategic vision and roadmap for hardware capabilities, tools, and processes across Zone 5.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Ensure hardware engineering delivers robust architectures, detailed designs, and high-quality integration support on schedule.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Partner with Programs and IPTs to allocate resources, drive execution discipline, and resolve cross-functional issues.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Establish and maintain engineering standards for hardware design, analysis, review rigor, documentation, verification, and configuration control.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace standards (AS9100, AS6500, DO-160, MIL-STD-461/704).</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Oversee major design reviews and readiness events—PDR, CDR, TRR—ensuring hardware content meets technical and programmatic requirements.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Identify and execute capability investments (equipment, software, training) needed for functional scalability.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Guide root-cause investigations and ensure systemic corrective actions across hardware disciplines.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Support proposal development by shaping hardware architectures, estimating labor, and defining execution approaches.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Serve as the senior hardware engineering representative in portfolio, business area, and executive-level reviews.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 1">Qualifications</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":240,"335559739":0}"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Basic expectations for this role include a minimum of:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">12+ years of hardware engineering experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or equivalent.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">5+ years leading engineering managers or multi-disciplinary hardware teams.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Demonstrated experience developing hardware architectures and scaling engineering processes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of DFMA, configuration control, integration workflows, and test readiness.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Ability to lead in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment with multiple active programs.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Our ideal candidate has:</span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience in UAS, missiles, loitering munitions, or complex electromechanical systems.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":279}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Familiarity with Solidworks, Altium, MBSE environments (Cameo), EVM, and AS6500-aligned program execution.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":279}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience collaborating with vertically integrated manufacturing operations.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":279}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}">#LI-BC1</span></p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay range for this role</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$220,000</span><span class="divider">—</span><span>$280,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p><strong>What's in it for you:</strong></p>
<p>Benefits: </p>
<ul>
<li>Competitive total compensation package </li>
<li>Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.</li>
<li>401k with company-match </li>
<li>4 weeks of paid time off each year</li>
<li>12 annual company holidays</li>
</ul>
<p>Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?</p>
<ul>
<li>Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.</li>
<li>Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.</li>
<li>Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are passionate about unmanned aircraft technology and want to be a part of a dynamic and growing company, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and join the Zone 5 Technologies team! </p>
<p><em>In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. </em></p>
<p><em><span data-teams="true">Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: <a id="menur1c92" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.e-verify.gov" target="_blank">https://www.e-verify.gov</a>.</span></em></p></div>
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