Job Description

Position Title: Director of Engineering

Location: Austin, TX

Employment Type: Full-Time

Overview:

We’re seeking a hands-on, visionary engineering leader to join our executive team and drive the advancement of cutting-edge multispectral hardware technologies. Reporting directly to the CEO, you’ll lead the development and integration of systems at the intersection of materials science, optics, and textile-embedded technology. This role is strictly hardware-focused — software engineering experience is not applicable.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of multispectral materials and optical systems. Ideal candidates come from backgrounds in hardware engineering, applied physics, defense tech, or optical systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the U.S.-based technical team and collaborate closely with global colleagues to transition innovations from prototype to production.
• Define and track annual engineering objectives, reporting progress to senior leadership and the board.
• Direct and mentor engineering teams, ensuring efficient structure, clear delegation, and progress tracking.
• Translate customer and R&D feedback into actionable product enhancements and solutions.
• Oversee product development pipelines and work closely with business development to align technical capabilities with market needs.
• Represent the company in technical discussions with partners, customers, and stakeholders.
• Identify potential bottlenecks and coordinate cross-functional resources to resolve issues proactively.
• Manage field testing programs — from planning and logistics to execution — ensuring clear communication and feedback loops.
• Create technical documentation, including proposals, white papers, and progress reports to support business growth and customer engagement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Optics, or a related field.
• (Note: Software backgrounds are not suited for this role.)
• 5+ years of experience leading interdisciplinary technical teams (10+ years preferred).
• Demonstrated success in technical team leadership and project execution.
• Broad, multidisciplinary engineering expertise.
• Military or defense industry experience is a plus.
• Experience with textile-integrated technology is a strong advantage.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to create compelling technical documentation and visualizations.
• Comfortable interacting with executives, partners, and stakeholders across disciplines.

Additional Requirements:

• U.S. citizenship required (due to government contract obligations)
• Active or obtainable U.S. security clearance
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

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