Chief of Engineering

Job Description

Smart Wires is reimagining the grid with our modular Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) solutions and analytics that enable controllable power systems. This means more renewables, at a lower cost and with less disruption to communities and the environment. We collaborate with our customers to achieve their strategic objectives and help them face an uncertain energy future with flexible, high-impact solutions.

The Chief of Engineering will lead the global engineering team that develops new products and sustains existing products. The team spans both internal and external resources. The Chief of Engineering will report to the CEO, engage in strategic decision-making as a key member of the senior leadership team (SLT), interface with the Board of Directors and drive corporate initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have a proven history of leading globally-dispersed engineering teams to successfully deliver complex, multi-disciplinary programs on time, within budget and to specification, fostering a positive and collaborative environment throughout. Responsible for:

New product engineering from concept to full-scale production to sunsetting, including

• Developing hardware, software and firmware
• Managing development risks
• Partnering with the Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams to ensure the prototype build, production cut in and production ramp up are smooth
• Assuring compliance to applicable industry standards and customer requirements

Sustaining engineering, including

• Managing component, firmware and software obsolescence
• Developing firmware/software updates to ensure ongoing compliance with industry standards and norms
• Implementing upgrades to the deployed fleet of devices
• Enhancing the product to improve (or address) design for manufacturability, customer experience and BoM cost

Analytics and application engineering, including

• Educating external stakeholders on the product
• Conducting and/or overseeing the Engineering team's responsibilities for proposals, tenders, contracting and project delivery

The operation and growth of the Engineering team, including

• Defining the goals and objectives of the team and driving success
• Ensuring intellectual property is harvested and queued up for protection
• Growing the capacity of the team through recruiting, training and mentoring
• Deploying and refining industry best practices to continually improve the efficacy of the Engineering team. Examples include FMECA, Safety in Design, DfX and design reviews.
• Supporting the company-wide budget process in a collaborate manner to best position the company for success

Requirements

• BS or SB in an engineering or scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively growing experience with a track-record of innovation in the energy or industrial sector
• Minimum of 10 years of experience leading technical teams
• Experience leading product development or sustaining engineering teams
• Demonstrated excellence in executing complex technical programs
• Outstanding team player who is comfortable with open-ended problems and ambiguity in a fast-paced, highly-innovative, globally-dispersed team
• Demonstrated experience leading and driving change across a globally-dispersed team including external and offshore engineering resources
• Exceptional ability to present both business and technical information to a broad audience including customers, peers, staff and Board members
• Ability to inspire teams and partners

Desired Skills and Experience

• MS or PhD in an engineering or scientific discipline
• Experience leading engineering teams servicing a safety-critical application
• Experience with MW-class power electronics
• Experience with transmission grid products
• Experience working collaboratively with a Technical Advisory Board (TAB)

Location

• This role is located at the Smart Wires HQ, in (Research Triangle Park) Durham, NC

Travel Requirements

• Occasional travel may be required to visit our partners in India and Pakistan and support other corporate initiatives (e.g. visit our factory, customers and suppliers)

Safety Requirements

• Smart Wires team members are expected to comply with all safety requirements and regulations when working at Smart Wires facilities and visiting customer sites. This includes adherence to all state and local regulations. Additional safety precautions may include the use of PPE gear as needed per site requirements.

Benefits

At Smart Wires, we strive to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that focuses on our employees' total wellbeing, and our benefit offerings reflect that commitment to our people.

We offer:

• Unlimited annual leave
• Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community.
• Eighteen weeks of paid parental leave to support you and your family.
• Competitive total compensation packages that include, salary, bonus and equity.

The Culture

We are passionate about creating a culture that empowers our team to create positive change for everyone and achieve their full potential, based on our core values:

Making an impact - We are passionate and ambitious about a better future for everyone. We are laser-focused on creating a meaningful, positive impact with real change for our customers, our industry, electricity consumers, and the planet.

Collaboration to drive success - We collaborate with each other, and our stakeholders, because we know even better outcomes come from great teamwork. We have humility which allows us to listen, learn and improve. We value diverse perspectives and seek high impact results.

Accountability - We take responsibility for our actions and behaviors, and for the outcomes we deliver. Acting with integrity and authenticity - and maintaining clear, open communication - ensures we are always improving, and delivering safe, high-quality solutions. We do what we say we will do.

Tenacious courage - We are clear on our path. We have always pioneered new ideas that challenge the status quo, even when it's not popular. We have tenacity, grit and determination. We push the boundaries of what's thought to be possible - so we can leave the world a better place than we found it.

Smart Wires is committed to diversity in our organization and building an equitable and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and experiences. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. Smart Wires complies with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination and we especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of any skin color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities.