Hardware Lead, Tactile Gloves

Mecka AI; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Mecka AI is seeking a Tactile Gloves Program Lead to own the glove program end-to-end—from concept through EVT/DVT/PVT production. You’ll work across industrial design, mechanical/EE/firmware teams, suppliers/CMs, and field ops to deliver a reliable, manufacturable glove with high-quality tactile signals.

You will own the product definition, design decisions, calibration and validation approaches, and the manufacturing ramp, ensuring tight BOM discipline and scalable production.

Qualifications

• Shipped a hardware product through production ramp (EVT/DVT/PVT).
• Able to own full stack: design, suppliers, schedules, manufacturing tests, QA.
• Fluent in DFM/DFT, yield, reliability, and supply chain realities.
• Strong product sense for comfort, ergonomics, and usability.

Responsibilities

• Build the end-to-end program plan and run the weekly execution cadence.
• Translate product goals into engineering workstreams with clear owners and deadlines.
• Drive rapid prototype iterations (mechanical, sensing, packaging) and capture learnings for next build.
• Own vendor + CM communications: quotes, lead times, MOQ, tooling, test plans, escalation.
• Stand up production test and QA: fixtures, calibration routines, acceptance criteria, audit trails.
• Coordinate early pilot deployments to validate real-world performance and failure modes.

Skills

Hardware program mgmt

DFM/DFT

Reliability testing

Ergonomics focus

Tools

CAD software

Job description

About Mecka AI

Mecka AI is building the data infrastructure layer for robotics and embodied AI.
We design and operate global systems for data capture, data labeling, and hardware-enabled workflows used by leading AI labs and robotics companies to train and validate humanoid and embodied AI systems.
We work closely with frontier robotics teams to bridge real-world data, simulation, learning-based systems, and deployed hardware.

The Role

As Tactile Gloves Program Lead, you are the single owner of the tactile glove program: product definition, design ownership, execution cadence, and production outcomes.

This is a true 01 build role. You will take tactile gloves from concept prototype EVT/DVT/PVT volume, working across industrial design, mechanical/EE/firmware, suppliers/CMs, and field ops. You are accountable for shipping a glove that is reliable, manufacturable, and produces high-quality tactile signals at scale.

What You’ll Own

• Product requirements & roadmap: define what the glove must do (sensing, fit, comfort, durability, calibration, data quality) and the milestones to get there.
• Design ownership: drive industrial design + mechanical architecture decisions; ensure the glove is wearable, serviceable, and scalable to manufacture.
• Sensor stack & data quality: partner with sensing/firmware/ML teams to define the signal quality bar and the calibration + validation approach.
• Manufacturing ramp: own supplier selection, DFM, tooling, test fixtures, yield targets, and ramp plans (EVT/DVT/PVT production).
• Cost and schedule: run the program like a machine — tight BOM discipline, clear decision points, aggressive iteration.
• Reliability: make the glove survive real use (sweat, abrasion, flex, drops) and keep the signals stable across time and units.

What You’ll Do

• Build the end-to-end program plan and run the weekly execution cadence.
• Translate product goals into engineering workstreams with clear owners and deadlines.
• Drive rapid prototype iterations (mechanical, sensing, packaging) and enforce learnings into the next build.
• Own vendor + CM communications: quotes, lead times, MOQ, tooling, test plans, and escalation.
• Stand up production test and QA: fixtures, calibration routines, acceptance criteria, and audit trails.
• Coordinate early pilot deployments to validate real-world performance and failure modes.

You Might Be a Fit If

• You have shipped a 01 hardware product through production ramp (EVT/DVT/PVT) and know what breaks in the real world.
• You can hold the full stack: design, suppliers, schedules, manufacturing tests, and quality — not just “PM work.”
• You’re fluent in DFM/DFT, yield, reliability, and the realities of supply chain.
• You have strong taste for product: comfort, ergonomics, and usability matter as much as sensor performance.

Bonus

• Experience with wearables, gloves, haptics, tactile sensors, or force/pressure sensing.
• Experience building calibration pipelines and production test infrastructure.
• Experience working with China-based suppliers and CMs.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive candidate experience. Should you require any accommodation whatsoever during the interview process, please inform us without any hesitation. Mecka is dedicated to ensuring equal treatment and opportunity in all phases of recruitment, selection, and employment, in compliance with employment law. We do not discriminate based on gender, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other protected category. Mecka is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, fostering a culture of inclusivity and maintaining a work environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Mecka uses artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly to support administrative and efficiency-focused aspects of our recruitment process. This includes activities such as drafting job descriptions, generating interview questions, note-taking and recordings, and supporting sourcing and scheduling workflows. All candidate evaluations, interviews, and hiring decisions are made by members of the Mecka team. While AI tools may assist with screening and assessment, they do not replace human judgment in selection decisions. Our use of AI is intended to streamline routine tasks, improve consistency, and enhance the overall candidate experience. We are committed to upholding principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability in all hiring activities. Mecka regularly reviews its recruitment practices to mitigate bias and to ensure alignment with applicable laws and evolving best practices.