Overall Scope:

The Manager, HW VAVE Engineering is a hands-on working manager responsible for both leading a multidisciplinary team (electrical and mechanical VAVE engineers) and directly executing high-impact VAVE projects as an individual contributor. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of electrical and mechanical engineers focused on value analysis/value engineering for released products. This role is accountable for building and executing the VAVE roadmap to deliver measurable cost reduction, supply continuity, lifecycle sustainment, and manufacturability improvements-while maintaining product performance, reliability, quality, and regulatory compliance.

The role combines people leadership, technical governance, and cross-functional execution across engineering, sourcing, operations, quality, and supplier partners.

Responsibilities:
• Lead and develop a team of electrical and mechanical VAVE engineers while setting clear priorities and accountability.
• Act as a hands-on working manager by directly owning and executing high-impact VAVE projects.
• Deliver annual VAVE targets (team + individual) for cost reduction, obsolescence mitigation, and supply continuity.
• Identify, prioritize, and drive VAVE opportunities including BOM optimization, part standardization, alternate sourcing, and design simplification.
• Provide technical leadership on electrical and mechanical changes, ensuring fit/form/function, reliability, and manufacturability are maintained.
• Define and execute validation plans; resolve technical issues through structured root-cause and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with sourcing, quality, operations, and suppliers to implement approved changes into production.
• Ensure high-quality ECO/ECN documentation and smooth release execution from approval to plant implementation.
• Track and report delivery metrics (savings, cycle time, implementation status, quality impact, and risk reduction).
• Communicate project status, risks, and recovery actions clearly to cross-functional teams and leadership.

Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Electronic Engineering.
• 8+ years of experience in electronic hardware design, sustaining engineering, or VAVE-focused product engineering.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience, with demonstrated success as a player-coach/working manager.
• Proven record of personally delivering technical projects tied to measurable cost reduction and lifecycle outcomes.
• Strong expertise in both electrical and mechanical change impact assessment.
• Experience with ECO/ECN, validation, production release, and supplier qualification processes.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with operations, sourcing, quality, and suppliers.
• Hybrid in Austin, TX (4 days onsite), up to 15% travel.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in regulated electromechanical products is desired but not required (e.g., fuel dispensing, payment, industrial equipment).
• Knowledge of DFM/DFA/DFX, should-cost methods, FMEA/8D, and design validation tools.
• Familiarity with PLM and ECAD/MCAD systems.
• Experience with compliance impacts (UL, EMC/EMI, environmental requirements as applicable).

Essential Functions:
• Lead the VAVE team's daily work to hit cost, quality, and lifecycle goals.
• Be a hands-on manager who also delivers technical projects directly.
• Plan and complete VAVE projects from idea to production rollout.
• Manage teams both locally and remotely, ensuring consistent communication, engagement, and performance.
• Coach team members, assign work, and ensure accountability.
• Find and prioritize opportunities for cost savings, simplification, and risk reduction.
• Review engineering changes to ensure quality, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Define and run validation/testing to protect fit, form, and function.
• Partner with sourcing, quality, manufacturing, and suppliers to implement changes.
• Manage supplier support for alternate parts and material qualifications.
• Maintain accurate ECO/ECN documentation and follow change-control processes.
• Track KPIs (savings, timing, quality, risk) and report progress clearly.
• Raise risks early and drive corrective actions to stay on target.

The information contained within this job description overview is not intended to be all-inclusive. Nothing in this job description restricts management or the company's ability to assign or reassign duties and/or responsibilities to or from this role at any time. This document is subject to change with or without notice.

Work Arrangement : Onsite/Hybrid

Bonus Eligible: This position is eligible to earn a discretionary bonus based on performance metrics and other criteria outlined in our applicable bonus plan.

We consider several job-related, non-discriminatory factors when determining the pay rate for a position, including, but not limited to, the position's responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, a candidate's education/training, the position's location, and the key skills needed for the position. Pay is one of the Total Rewards that we provide to compensate and recognize employees for their work.

Benefits for this position include: a 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions; medical, dental and vision insurance; wellness programs; health savings account, health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts; company paid short-term disability and long-term disability; company paid employee basic life and AD&D insurance; supplemental employee and dependent life insurance; optional accident, hospital indemnity and critical illness insurance; adoption, surrogacy, and fertility benefits and assistance; commuter benefits; parental, military, jury duty, and bereavement leaves of absence; paid time off, including ;business travel services; employee discounts; and an employee assistance program that includes company paid counseling sessions and legal services. Eligibility for benefits is governed by applicable plan documents and policies.

Job Function:
#LI-SB2
#SWE