Head of Hardware Engineering

At Wisk, we believe that less time getting there means more time being there for the moments that truly matter. We are an urban air-mobility company dedicated to delivering safe everyday flight for everyone. Our self-flying air taxi, Cora, will make it possible to skip the traffic and get to where you’re going, faster. Join us to craft a better world by opening access to the sky.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Engineering, the Head of Hardware Engineering will manage the Hardware Engineering organization, which develops the airframe, motors, electronics, harnesses, batteries, and all of the other hardware in our aircraft.  The Head of Hardware will be a part of the Technical Leadership Team, which also consists of leaders from the Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, and Flight and Systems Test teams.
Essential Responsibilities:The Head of Hardware Engineering will be a key part of the technical leadership team and will need a combination of engineering people management and demonstrated technical leadership acumen in the area of hardware development. This position will be responsible for directing the work of the following groups which each have established managers: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, airframe, materials and processes, and manufacturing engineering.
The successful candidate will be respected in the aerospace engineering community as a highly organized self-starter who has direct hands-on experience developing and building type certified aircraft, from initial concept through flight testing and certification, with the technical breadth necessary to oversee all functions within the hardware engineering team. They must have strong experience as an organizational leader with a proven track record of hiring and overseeing highly talented and successful aerospace engineering teams. In this leadership role, the candidate must be proactive, forward thinking and self-motivated with the ability to build and lead a team of like-minded engineers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build, lead and manage all parts of the hardware engineering organization 
• Foster a culture that inspires high levels of performance and accountability 
• Balance the need for innovation with the development requirements and process of a type certified aircraft
• Help define the overarching design, analysis, test and certification approach 
• Drive focus on quality and reliability 
• Prioritize and allocate budget and resources for the engineering team
• Set annual goals and pro-actively analyze metrics to drive process improvements within engineering 
• Effectively partner with other members of the technical leadership team to balance and achieve company goals 

Requirements:

• Demonstrated success leading an aerospace engineering organization with multiple functional areas, including new technology projects versus legacy systems
• Thorough understanding of certification requirements
• Ability to drive accountability appropriately within the organization, especially in service to schedule, scope and cost  
• Strategic thinker with very strong decision making and communication skills 
• Highly self-motivated with a strong bias for action, and excellent problem solving skills across multidisciplinary skill sets 
• Demonstrable experience selecting, managing, developing and motivating technically diverse teams.
• An excellent communicator (verbal and written) internally and externally, able to represent the company to the highest standards and report effectively to the senior management team on Engineering strategy, performance and outlook. 
• A visionary leader who can adapt and drive innovation and performance as the company goes through rapid growth 

Desired:

• Fosters an inclusive environment for the Engineering team including mentorship, guidance and encourages open communication regarding challenges and suggestions for technology and project evolution. 
• Manages multiple projects simultaneously with an appropriate sense of urgency. 
• Quick-minded; creative and driven while remaining action and results oriented. 

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical, Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering 
• Master’s Degree or PhD strongly preferred 
• 15+ years of direct experience in the design, development, build, qualification, test and certification in FAA or EASA certification projects and/or related projects. 
• Proven experience in a leadership role and a management role.

We are located in Mountain View just a couple of hundred feet from Shoreline Lake and its surrounding walking/jogging trails. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance (company pays 100% of employee premium), alternative work schedule (9/80), flexible time off, 10 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 50% company matching (no vesting period), commuter assistance, and education assistance. And on top of all that, we also offer a variety of perks such as free catered lunches, flight lessons, gym membership subsidies, snacks, drinks, fruits, employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, IP bonus program, happy hours and many more.
Wisk Aero provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wisk Aero abides by applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Wisk Aero is an E-Verify employer.