Director, Hardware Operations

We are Brain Corp and we enable smarter operations. We set out to create the most intelligent tools ever, and now we power the world’s largest fleet of robots operating in commercial public spaces. By injecting intelligence into our customers' operations, we transform manual operations into automated workflows, making the lives of people safer, easier and more productive. Our robots are running around thousands of stores, schools, warehouses, hospitals, offices, airports and more, solving practical challenges with revolutionary solutions. For more information on how we are turning robots into tools that serve a purpose and to learn how you can become a brainiac, please visit: https://www.braincorp.com/.

Position Summary:

We are looking for a Director of Hardware Operations to join our team and help us lead the way in the robotics industry. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in operations, engineering, and manufacturing, with deep experience in building and maintaining OEM and supplier partnerships. They will be responsible for developing and executing our operational strategy, as well as managing our team of engineers and manufacturing staff. The Director of Hardware Operations will also be responsible for ensuring that our products, including the end products of our key OEM partners that are Powered by BrainOS, meet the highest quality standards and are delivered on time and on budget.

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead key aspects of the company’s manufacturing process, including new product releases, engineering changes, purchasing, and logistics.
• Lead all aspects of OEM partner and supplier relationships for manufacturing and operations.
• Work closely with the R&D group to understand new product technologies and transfer these to manufacturing by establishing procedures for product release to production.
• Act as site director of our second location and manage a team of technicians, engineers, and specialists including the delegation of work, performance management, and upskilling as needed.
• Manage MRP, inventory, and other manufacturing and production planning systems.
• Develop a production plan and schedule by planning demand based on forecast interfacing with marketing and business development departments.
• Manage the total supply chain, vendor selection, vendor management, qualify vendor processes, forecasting, supplier quality, PPV, and develop methods to ensure continuing vendor compliance through structured audits.
• Manage manufacturing, assembly, and test.
• Negotiate contracts, product costs, and delivery schedules.
• Define and implement production control systems, such as quality measurement, and continuous improvement methods.
• Maintain knowledge and provide reports on manufacturing capabilities, capacity, and roadmaps.
• Oversee production control, production process development, bill of materials management, and product documentation.
• Detailed management of BOM costs and develop strategies to reduce costs in all facets of manufacturing and logistics.
• Manage all logistics processes for finished goods, including demand planning, customer fulfillment, shipping, and customer returns.
• Collaborate with leadership cross-functionally to ensure timely delivery and align production operations to accomplish strategic company goals.
• Financial planning and analysis - effectively forecast and meet cost targets.
• Manage RMA and warrant processes: track NCRs, RMAs, Warranties, and quality trends.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or similar related field and MBA preferred.
• Minimum 7 years leading lean manufacturing with a proven track record of delivering results, preferably in a medium-volume consumer electronics manufacturing environment.
• Experience successfully moving products from prototype stages to full-volume production with manufacturing partners.
• Experience with inventory control systems such as Netsuite, Quickbooks, Fishbowl, Microsoft Dynamics, or other ERP systems.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in managing a team of 5 direct reports
• Experience with Product Lifecycle Management systems such as Arena.
• Experience building a successful operations team, including production test, quality assurance, manufacturing engineering, document control, logistics, planning, and production control.
• Demonstrated track record evaluating and qualifying vendors, managing vendor relationships, qualifying vendor processes, and developing methods to ensure continued vendor performance domestically and abroad.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics:

• Hands-on manufacturing operations with a strong technical background and knowledge of delivering system products with hardware, firmware, and mechanical plastic assemblies.
• Excellent written and communication skills and ability distill and present information to senior leadership.
• Knowledge of NPI (New Product Introduction) and project management (PMP) background
• Experienced in financial planning and analysis as it relates to inventory control, RMAs, and warranty as well as experience with Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VA/VE).
• Experience in developing and managing partner relationships (OEM, ODM, Supplier, Customer)
• First-hand experience negotiating contracts, product costs, and delivery schedules with vendors and manufacturing partners.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential functions may require maintaining the physical condition necessary for sitting, walking or standing for periods of time; operating a computer and keyboard; use of hands to finger and grasp; talk and hear at normal room levels; visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures; push or pull up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Employees are exposed to the typical office environment with computers, printers and telephones.

Salary Range:

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in San Diego, California is $151,681 to $196,292. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc. Brain Corp is a multi-state employer and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.