Senior Director, Hardware Engineering

Job description

ABOUT LUMILENS At Lumilens we are building the critical photonics infrastructure that powers tomorrow’s AI supercomputing. From chip-to-chip optical interconnects to scalable photonic engines, Lumilens is unlocking a new era of computing - faster, cooler, and massively more efficient. We’re a well-funded startup backed by Mayfield and led by veterans who’ve built and scaled some of the most transformative technologies in the industry. At Lumilens, we’re developing high-speed photonics products purpose-built to power the future of AI infrastructure and high-performance computing. This isn’t incremental innovation, it’s a ground-floor opportunity to rethink the optical layer from the silicon up. You’ll work alongside a team of world-class engineers solving some of the hardest challenges in scaling optical systems. Every line of code, every design decision, every breakthrough you help deliver will shape the infrastructure of tomorrow. If you're looking for mission, momentum, and the chance to make an outsized impact, jump on the rocket ship. We’re just getting started. POSITION OVERVIEW We are looking for a Senior Hardware Manager who combines strategic leadership with hands‑on technical expertise. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast‑paced environments, is comfortable rolling up their sleeves to solve engineering challenges, and is willing to travel frequently on short notice to support global teams, vendors, and customers. DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead a team of hardware engineers across design, validation, and deployment. - Drive project execution, ensuring milestones are met with high quality and efficiency. - Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. - Hands‑On Technical Contribution - Actively participate in board bring‑up, debugging and system integration. - Support prototype builds, lab validation, High volume manufacturing and field issue resolution. - Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (mechanical, firmware, SI/PI, manufacturing) to ensure robust designs. - Vendor & Customer Engagement - Travel on short notice to vendor sites, manufacturing partners, and customer locations for troubleshooting, audits, and design reviews. - Build strong relationships with suppliers to ensure quality, cost, and delivery targets are met. - Program, Project & Process Management - Oversee hardware development lifecycle from concept to production - Implement best practices for DFM/DFT, reliability testing, and compliance. - Track deliverables, tasks, action items, project milestones and report progress to senior leadership. Required Qualifications - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. - 15+ years of experience in hardware design and development, with Significant years in a leadership role. - Proven ability to debug hardware at the board/system level using lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.). - Strong knowledge of high‑speed interfaces, power delivery, and system integration. - Willingness and ability to travel frequently (international) on short notice.Preferred Skills - Experience with data center hardware, networking equipment, or photonic/electrical interconnects. - Familiarity with compliance standards (FCC, CE, UL, RoHS, etc.). - Strong vendor management and cross‑cultural communication skills. - Track record of leading teams through NPI (New Product Introduction) and scaling to volume production. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.