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Hardware Systems Engineering Manager
Frontline Wildfire Defense
Software Engineering, Other Engineering
USD 100k-160k / year
Posted on Jul 15, 2025
Hardware Systems Engineering Manager
About Frontline Wildfire Defense
At Frontline Wildfire Defense, our mission is to protect homes, families, and communities from wildfire disasters. Our innovative wildfire defense system allows homeowners to track wildfires, receive critical alerts, and actively safeguard their properties using a remotely operated fire protection system. With multiple layers of redundancy, our system hydrates homes and surrounding areas to prevent ignition from flying embers—the #1 cause of structure loss during wildfires.
We are a fast-growing team that has already achieved significant milestones in protecting homes across Northern and Southern California. Our team includes experienced engineers, product designers, and industry experts, and we are looking for a Hardware Systems Engineering Manager to help drive our next phase of growth.
About This Opportunity
As Hardware Systems Engineering Manager you will own the end‑to‑end hardware product lifecycle—turning strategic product goals into robust, scalable, and cost‑effective physical solutions. You’ll lead cross‑functional development of our hardware systems, including controllers, pumps, hydraulics, and sensor peripherals, while leveling-up the engineering processes (BOM, drawing, change control, risk management) that let us scale rapidly without sacrificing quality.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead product development for new and existing hardware—including hydraulic assemblies, electronic controllers, sensing and communication modules.
- Research, prototype, test, and validate components and design concepts with an eye toward cost, manufacturability, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
- Own hardware reliability and performance quality; establish metrics, analyze field data, and drive continuous improvement.
- Create and maintain design documentation—drawings, schematics, installation guides, and training collateral—for internal teams and external partners.
- Troubleshoot and resolve field and manufacturing issues, implementing corrective and preventative actions and maintaining a hardware risk register.
- Manage the hardware roadmap in concert with product, software, and operations teams, translating strategic objectives into prioritized engineering work.
- Collaborate with supply‑chain and manufacturing partners to meet cost and quality targets, support NPI builds, and qualify alternative components.
- Define architecture commonality and component‑bundling guidelines that simplify installation and enable subcontractor scale‑up.
- Contribute to Frontline’s IP strategy through innovative, defensible hardware designs.
- Develop and validate design and installation tools that empower sales, design, and operations teams.
Qualifications
Must-Have:
- 5–7 years experience delivering electro‑mechanical or fluid‑handling products at volume, with end‑to‑end ownership from concept through launch and sustain.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or equivalent.
- Product, program, and/or project management leadership: able to build and maintain hardware roadmaps, create schedules, align cross‑functional teams, and identify/mitigate risks.
- Proficiency in generating and interpreting mechanical drawings and 3‑D models; comfortable reviewing electronic schematics.
- Demonstrated success installing or operating BOM, drawing, and ECO processes that interface with ERP/PLM tools.
- Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and cross‑functional communication skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
- Self‑starter mindset suited to a mission‑driven, fast‑moving startup.
Nice-to-Have
- Background in consumer electronics or connected devices (IoT) with a bonus for hydraulic/fluids experience.
- Hands‑on experience onboarding and ramping external suppliers, contract manufacturers, and contractors from prototype through mass production.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $100,000–$160,000 based on experience
- Company-provided cell phone and laptop computer
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
- 401(k) Plan
- Flexible time off policy time off policy + 10 paid holidays per year
- Flexible work environment in the Santa Rosa area
- Join a passionate, mission-driven team making a real difference!
- And much more!
Join Our Mission!
If you're excited about building technology that protects homes and families from wildfire disasters, we want to hear from you! Apply today and become part of a fast-growing team with purpose and innovation at its core.
Diversity and inclusion are essential values at Frontline. We know we'll do our best and most impactful work when we feel represented, and we belong. We encourage talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.