Full Job Description
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.
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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.
