Vice President - Systems Engineering

Job Description

As the Vice President of Systems Engineering, you will provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the Systems Engineering organization, overseeing Balance of Plant (BoP) and mechanical system design. You will drive the execution of the product roadmap, ensuring our electrolyzer systems meet performance, reliability, cost and compliance requirements. This role is responsible for scaling a high performance engineering organization capable of delivering world class system architectures that enable competitive, manufacturable and field proven hydrogen generation products.

Executive Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build, lead, and develop a best‑in‑class Systems Engineering organization encompassing BoP engineering, mechanical design, system architecture, system modeling and subsystem integration.
• Establish a long‑term organizational vision while also creating the operational rigor required to execute aggressively on near‑term program milestones.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, cross‑functional ownership and continuous improvement.

Strategic Direction & Roadmap Execution

• Own the technical execution of the product roadmap, ensuring system‑level designs evolve to meet future performance, reliability, cost, manufacturability and regulatory requirements.
• Provide strategic leadership for all system‑level technologies supporting hydrogen electrolysis, including purification and drying, water treatment, cooling systems, ventilation systems and component selection.
• Guide the development and maturation of advanced system modeling capabilities for performance simulation, optimization and prediction across a range of use‑case and operational conditions.

System Architecture & Design Integrity

• Drive a holistic system‑architecture approach ensuring all subsystems-mechanical, electrical, stack, controls-integrate seamlessly to deliver reliable, high‑performing electrolyzer systems.
• Mature best practices around PFD/P&ID development, subsystem optimization, component selection and subsystem testing.
• Ensure system designs meet or exceed all product requirements, performance specifications, safety standards and regulatory expectations.

Cost, Quality, and Execution Accountability

• Lead cost‑out initiatives through system simplification, component optimization, supplier development and design‑for‑manufacture strategies.
• Ensure the Systems Engineering organization delivers against key schedule, budget and quality milestones across multiple programs running in parallel.
• Implement processes to proactively identify, mitigate and manage technical risks across the product lifecycle.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Product, Stack Engineering, Controls, Compliance, Manufacturing and Program Management to ensure alignment and execution of cross‑functional deliverables.
• Ensure clear communication and technical transparency throughout the organization-including escalation of risk, assessment of alternatives and recommendation of optimal system‑level solutions.

Global Standards & Compliance

• Oversee system‑level compliance for global markets (ISO, EU, US), ensuring products are engineered to meet all required safety, environmental and quality standards.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical/Chemical or a related engineering discipline.
• 18+ years of engineering experience with at least 10 years in technical leadership roles, including ownership of multi‑disciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven track record delivering complex systems into production environments at scale.
• Deep experience in mechanical systems, heat transfer, fluid flow, system integration and component selection.
• Demonstrated success driving cost reduction, system optimization and high‑reliability product development.
• Strong communicator capable of transparent executive reporting and navigating technical ambiguity.
• Leader who builds high‑performing teams and inspires accountability, urgency and technical excellence.

Ohmium is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.