R&D Innovation Engineer

The Owow; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Dog-friendly office

Free lunch 4 days a week

Job summary

oWOW in Oakland, California is seeking an R&D Innovation Engineer responsible for developing scalable prefabricated systems. The role involves collaboration with design teams and suppliers to enhance building systems. Candidates should have over 3 years of experience in related fields.

This position offers a competitive salary, a dog-friendly office, free lunches four days a week, and comprehensive medical benefits.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in facade engineering, modular construction, or prefabrication R&D.
• Experience with unitized curtain walls, panelized systems, or volumetric modules.
• Ability to read shop drawings and coordinate with engineers.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and prototype new unitized cladding and envelope systems.
• Design prefabricated interior walls and ceilings with coordinated MEP components.

Skills

Facade engineering

Modular construction

Problem-solving

Project management

Collaboration

Fabrication coordination

Education

Professional or academic background in Architecture, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Shop drawings

3D fabrication models

Job description

Expected salary range: $115,000- $130,000

About oWOW

At oWOW, we’re on a mission to Accelerate Housing Abundance to Unlock Human Potential.

We design and build housing up to 65% below market cost and deliver it in months instead of years by automating design, industrializing construction, and deploying prefabricated, componentized building systems at unmatched speed.

oWOW is growing quickly to expand project delivery across the state of California and nationwide. Our goal is to start construction on 2,000 affordable housing units by the end of 2026.

The Role

We’re seeking a R&D Innovation Engineer to drive the next evolution of oWOW’s prefabricated component systems. You’ll bridge design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation, working closely with the design team, fabricators, suppliers, and installers to develop scalable building systems that reduce cost, improve quality, and accelerate construction.

What You’ll Do

1. Expand Our Facade Catalog

   Engineer and prototype new unitized cladding and envelope systems that balance aesthetics, performance, and manufacturability.

   Collaborate with facade fabricators and suppliers to refine system details, connections, and production sequences.

   Produce shop drawings and 3D fabrication models, coordinating with structural and waterproofing consultants.

   Build and test physical mock-ups, validate installation procedures, and document lessons learned for continuous improvement.

2. Develop Prefabricated Interior Systems

   Design prefabricated interior walls, and ceiling with coordinated MEP components.

   Lead mock‑up testing and on‑site trials to optimize speed, tolerance, and reliability.

   Coordinate feedback between MEP engineers, fabricator, and installers to ensure systems are field‑ready and code‑compliant.

   Negotiate with suppliers to secure bulk pricing and MSAs with manufacturing partners.

Requirements

• Have 3+ years of experience in facade engineering, modular construction, or prefabrication R&D.
• Have worked with unitized curtain walls, panelized systems, or volumetric modules in a real fabrication or construction environment.
• Enjoy translating design intent into buildable, testable, and repeatable assemblies.
• Can read shop drawings, coordinate with engineers, and fabricators to build prototypes.
• Thrive in a collaborative, cross‑disciplinary environment, balancing creativity with precision and schedule.
• Are comfortable working with vendors, fabricators, and installers to resolve details, validate performance, and scale production.
• Are curious, resourceful, and driven to improve how buildings are made.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional or academic background in Architecture, Engineering, or related field.
• Proven experience in prefabrication, facade engineering, or modular construction.
• Knowledge of structural systems, and envelope design.
• Project management skills, able to take ownership and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English in a professional setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with design‑to‑fabrication workflows and shop drawings.
• Familiarity with MEP coordination and integration into prefabricated systems.
• Track record of negotiating with suppliers and securing volume pricing deals.
• Hands‑on experience with mockups, testing, and inspections.

Our Core Values

• oWOW: Produce outstanding results that surprise and amaze people
• Ownership: Understand what you are accountable for & take responsibility for your results.
• Curiosity: Challenge conventional thinking & explore creative solutions.
• Teamwork: The combination of trust, communication & collaboration.

Benefits

• Paid time off, sick leave, and holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Dog‑friendly office
• Free lunch 4 days a week

We are an equal opportunity employer and value a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

Candidates requiring visa sponsorship may be considered only if eligible for non‑lottery visa categories (e.g., TN, E‑3, O‑1) or for transfer of an existing H‑1B visa. We are unable to sponsor new H‑1B visas for this role at this time.