Prototype-to-Production Leader - Hardware Systems

Heron Power; Scotts Valley (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Heron Power, a startup building cutting-edge power electronics for the grid, seeks a hands-on leader to own the transition from prototype builds to volume production. You will lead the pilot technician team, define program-level processes, and collaborate across design, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to deliver high-quality hardware.

You will manage readiness gates, ramp-to-volume, and production transfer, maintaining visibility with dashboards and KPIs, while growing the team and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required (Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial or related field).
• 7+ years in NPI, prototype build, or manufacturing engineering in hardware.
• Direct experience owning prototype or early engineering builds end-to-end.
• Experience transitioning work from prototype to production manufacturing.
• Comfortable with ambiguity of an early-stage hardware startup and hands-on on the floor.
• Strong communicator who can hold cross-functional teams to build readiness.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end build program execution of prototype and early engineering builds, including schedule, resourcing, and readiness gates, and driving ramp-to-volume strategy.
• Build and lead the organization — hire, manage, and develop the pilot technician team, scaling structure and career paths as build volume grows.
• Coordinate across design engineering, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, quality, and EPMs to maintain a shared build plan and manage change.
• Maintain build readiness plans tracking part availability, tooling readiness, and open engineering changes; run readiness reviews with owners and dates.
• Own the manufacturing transition of early processes to production, defining production-ready criteria for each process.
• Coordinate engineering change cutovers, manage tooling and serial-number tracking, and plan unique builds without disrupting the core schedule.
• Own the master build schedule and risk mitigation, account for long-lead components and contingencies.
• Monitor yield and build-related issues, drive resolution, and feed root-cause into corrective actions.

Skills

NPI program leadership

Hands-on floor presence

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Heron Power, a startup building cutting-edge power electronics for the grid, seeks a hands-on leader to own the transition from prototype builds to volume production. You will lead the pilot technician team, define program-level processes, and collaborate across design, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to deliver high-quality hardware.

You will manage readiness gates, ramp-to-volume, and production transfer, maintaining visibility with dashboards and KPIs, while growing the team and