Director of Engineering - Consumer Hardware

About AstrohausAstrohaus is a distributed team based in Metro Detroit, Michigan, that creates consumer products at the intersection of design, art, productivity, and technology. Formed in 2014 around the breakout Freewrite Smart Typewriter, the company, led by designer and engineer, Adam Leeb, is expanding into new verticals in 2024.
Accolades: Freewrite products have won several awards and in 2021 the Smart Typewriter entered the Science Museum, London’s permanent Printing & Writing Collection becoming a literal piece of history. Tens of thousands of customers around the world have cumulatively written 500 million+ words on Freewrite devices.
Read about the Freewrite family at getfreewrite.com, in The Atlantic, Wired, or in the WSJ.Job RoleJoin Astrohaus as our Director of Engineering. In this key role you will be responsible for turning product vision into reality. You will own all engineering workstreams (mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, etc) and be the main POC for our contract manufacturers. Astrohaus does not have project managers which means this role will also be responsible for managing development timelines and milestones. The role is open for remote work with occasional travel (1-3x per quarter).About YouYou are an engineer with experience managing high performance engineering teams at small companies or startups. You want to go the extra mile to do things right because you know it translates into the best possible product experience, and saved headache down the road. You believe in the value of craft and know how to get the best out of engineers you manage. You have experience hiring and firing engineers. You are always on the lookout for recruiting A talent. You love working on consumer products because they bring a unique set of challenges that can only be solved by thoughtfully approaching cost/complexity/performance. You have experience managing factories in China and take pride in your relationships. You are eager to learn from others and enjoy collaboration with like-minded colleagues. You are constantly looking for alternative approaches that can speed up development and improve quality. You have a track record of working hard through tough challenges.Responsibilities

• Manage team of internal and external engineers
• Own new product development and existing product improvements with regards to engineering
• Manage prototyping and procurement for R&D activities
• Act as main POC for contract manufacturers in China and elsewhere
• Manage timelines and milestones for engineering workstreams
• Establish engineering policies and ensure engineers follow best practices
• Work directly with CEO to understand product vision and determine engineering requirements

Qualifications

• BS/MS Engineering degree in related field
• Broad technical skills and deep understanding of typical consumer product engineering challenges
• 3+ years of experience as an engineering manager
• 7+ years of experience in an engineering role
• Experience developing consumer products from ideation to MP
• Experience working in a small company or startup
• Experience working closely with Chinese contract manufacturers including on the ground at the factory
• Demonstrated ability to build products with challenging cosmetic and functional requirements
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Enthusiastic for Astrohaus’ products and mission

CompensationThe lean nature of our team and fast growth of our company allows us to provide stable and competitive compensation often reserved for larger companies. This includes:

• Unlimited PTO
• Flexible, hybrid work environment
• BCBS Health & Dental
• Competitive market rate salary
• 401K program
• Relocation bonus
• Annual performance bonus
• Nimble hiring process

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