Head of Hardware Operations

Spot AI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful equity at an early stage

Medical, dental, vision coverage with低

Disability insurance (short & long)

Life insurance

401K with employer match

Job summary

Spot AI, based in San Francisco, CA, seeks a leader to own the hardware operations end-to-end—from edge compute platform design to NPI and manufacturing with CM/3PL partners. You will specify hardware, drive NPI from prototype to volume and establish robust quality plans, while managing BOMs, costs, and fulfillment ecosystems such as NetSuite.

The role requires deep experience in lean hardware operations, CM relationships, and cross-functional leadership to deliver reliable, scalable hardware

Qualifications

• Experience owning CM relationships through NPI and volume scaling.
• Hands-on hardware operations with lean manufacturing.
• Ability to work in person in San Francisco and travel to partners.

Responsibilities

• Design, scope, and benchmark the edge compute platform across x86, GPU, thermal, power, and I/O.
• Own NPI end to end: prototyping, validation testing, and volume ramp.
• Manage contract manufacturers and 3PLs; oversee line readiness and audits.
• Author and maintain manufacturing SOPs and test procedures.
• Establish CM quality plans including inspection, in-line testing, and AQL.
• Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for failures.
• Oversee BOM costs, RFQs, and landed costs; mitigate part shortages.
• Automate order fulfillment in NetSuite and build inventory dashboards.
• Enforce process discipline across internal teams and partners.

Skills

Hardware operations

NPI

Supply chain

Quality assurance

CM management

Data analysis

NetSuite ERP

Cost optimization

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Who we are

Spot AI turns cameras into coworkers. We are building the category of AI coworkers for the physical world. Our platform enables businesses to understand, automate, and act across their environments in real time. Spot AI is relied on at over 10,000 locations by more than 1,000 customers across manufacturing, construction, logistics, and retail. Backed by over $110 million from investors including Scale, Redpoint, Qualcomm Ventures, StepStone, and Bessemer, we are building the system that brings AI out of the digital world and into the real one. We move fast, take ownership, and focus on outcomes. We are building a company for people who want to solve real problems and have a direct impact on how businesses operate.

Ready to learn more? Connect with us on LinkedIn | X | YouTube

Own the hardware that brings AI into the physical world

Every AI agent deployed by Spot operates on hardware installed directly in the field. Designed to execute vision language models on site, our edge compute platform performs reliably in harsh operating conditions with shaky networks and strict uptime needs serving as the foundational bridge between AI software and the physical environment. We run an agile, partner driven operation with high standards. We deliver production hardware at scale through strategic partners. In this role, you will lead our hardware operations end to end guiding each unit from initial specification through site deployment with enterprise grade rigor combining NPI, quality engineering, and supply chain management into one unified mandate. Our operating framework relies on third party contract manufacturers (CMs) for supplier pass through alongside a third party logistics (3PL) network for fulfillment. This structure allows our high impact team to scale rapidly without maintaining physical plants or warehouses. You will hold full accountability across the complete journey: from the factory line and 3PL dock to final deployment at customer locations. While PCB layout expertise is not required, technical and engineering judgment is essential. You must be equipped to evaluate hardware specs and benchmarks, author manufacturing SOPs, perform root cause analysis on yield issues, and hold both internal engineers and external partners accountable to technical specifications.

Your assignment

Scope and spec hardware

• Partner with engineering to design, scope, and benchmark the edge compute platform across x86, GPU, thermal, power, and I/O.
• Translate workload and benchmark data into hardware specs across tiers, balancing cost, performance, and manufacturability.

Run NPI and manufacturing via CMs

• Own NPI end to end: prototyping, validation testing, and volume scaling.
• Manage contract manufacturers serving as supplier pass throughs, overseeing line readiness, first article inspections, and production ramps.
• Author and maintain manufacturing SOPs, work instructions, and test procedures for consistent output.

Own quality and manufacturing processes

• Establish and enforce CM quality plans covering incoming inspection, in line/functional testing, and outgoing AQL.
• Drive failure analysis, root cause, and corrective actions.
• Manage RMA and field return processes to drive operational learning.

Own supply chain, cost, and fulfillment

• Manage BOM and costs via CMs, negotiating terms, running RFQs, and lowering landed costs over time.
• Mitigate part shortages through CM forecasting and buffer stock.
• Oversee 3PL operations: receiving, kitting, outbound fulfillment, RMA logistics, and SLAs.
• Manage inventory, lead times, and demand-to-supply planning for deal-driven demand.

Own the operating system

• Automate end to end order fulfillment in NetSuite, handling intake, allocation, shipping, invoicing, and exceptions.
• Build dashboards for real-time tracking of inventory, lead times, order aging, and costs.
• Enforce process discipline across internal teams, CMs, and 3PLs, guiding systems partners as needed.

Who you are

Ideal candidates come from hardware ops, NPI, supply chain, engineering, or quality, and are ready to own both supply chain and NPI/quality end to end.

Strong fit qualities

• Started hands on in engineering/NPI/quality and progressed to owning CM relationships through NPI and volume scaling.
• Proven track record running lean hardware operations and driving big results with small teams and external partners.
• Ready to unify supply chain, NPI, and quality leadership in a single role.
• Technically proficient: capable of handling specs, SOPs, yield & root cause analysis,data analysis and partner accountability.
• Skilled in CM/supplier negotiations and BOM/cost model management.
• Experienced in managing 3PL relationships and high quality fulfillment.
• Fluent in ERPs (NetSuite) with experience automating order workflows.
• Clear communicator who turns complex hardware problems into actionable plans and schedules.

Bonus points for server/compute hardware experience, edge/industrial devices, transitioning to outsourced CMs, or qualifying secondary suppliers/partners.

Based in San Francisco, CA (650 5th St, in-office) with required travel to manufacturing partners.

This role could click if you

• Want to own a lean, outsourced hardware operation end to end, and run it like it’s yours.
• Are energized by making a hardware platform better, cheaper, and more reliable with every generation.
• Are as comfortable on the CM’s floor when something breaks as you are in a cost down review.

This role likely won’t click if you

• Want a multi layer org to operate within rather than owning the whole hardware function yourself.
• Want to bring manufacturing in house. We build through partners on purpose.
• Only want one half of the scope. This role owns supply chain and NPI plus quality together.
• Struggle to engage technically with engineers on benchmarks, DFM, test, thermal, or component tradeoffs.
• Are not willing or able to work in person from San Francisco and travel to manufacturing partners.

Compensation And Benefits Highlights

• Annual Base Salary Range: $200,000 - $240,000. This range represents the San Francisco Bay Area. The offered salary will depend on the offered candidate’s demonstrated skills and competencies for the role.
• Meaningful early stage equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision plan options with little-to-no cost for employees and dependents.
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability plans.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• 401K with employer match.

If you want to own the hardware operation that brings AI out of the digital world and into the real one, and make every unit better, cheaper, and more reliable to ship than the last, we should talk.

We are creating and cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture where we celebrate individuals for what they accomplish, no matter who they are. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.