Senior Hardware Strategy Advisor for NPI & Production

Kickmaker; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Kickmaker, a US-based engineering consultancy, is seeking an experienced professional to advise CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and founders on high-stakes hardware decisions. You will lead discovery and strategy discussions, defending proposals and guiding projects from prototype to mass production.

You will work across architecture, DFM, and manufacturing trade-offs, owning Tier 0 accounts and driving opportunities with executive-level impact.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in hardware engineering (robotics) with deep NPI experience.
• Executive presence: ability to influence C-level executives and translate technical arguments into business value.
• Experience in consultative, long-cycle B2B sales.
• Excellent written and verbal English.
• US-based, authorized to work in the US, and willing to travel for clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy discussions with senior client stakeholders and challenge assumptions to drive better outcomes.
• Shape and defend proposals focusing on architecture, Make-vs-Buy, DFM, and industrialization trade-offs.
• Own Tier 0 strategic accounts across the full product lifecycle, from prototype to mass production.
• Generate new opportunities through Kickmaker’s network and industry events and advance them to signature.
• Guide Kickmaker’s engineering teams on accounts, set technical direction, and ensure delivery succeeds from kickoff to handover.
• Collaborate with US and France teams to oversee scoping and risk management.

Skills

Hardware engineering

Executive presence

Consultative sales

English proficiency

US work authorization

Travel ready

Job description

Kickmaker, a US-based engineering consultancy, is seeking an experienced professional to advise CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and founders on high-stakes hardware decisions. You will lead discovery and strategy discussions, defending proposals and guiding projects from prototype to mass production.

You will work across architecture, DFM, and manufacturing trade-offs, owning Tier 0 accounts and driving opportunities with executive-level impact.