VP of Hardware

VP of Hardware 

Parallel is building Pather, an autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicle to modernize freight transportation. We are seeking a VP of Hardware to own the design and execution of the vehicle, lead the Hardware Engineering team that builds it, and ensure successful deployment. 

This is a senior, high-ownership role reporting directly to our CEO. You will set the technical direction for the vehicle, from chassis, powertrain, and braking to battery, sensors, and electrical. You will own the hardware program schedule, the development process, and the cost of every vehicle we build, while staying engaged in the day-to-day engineering and testing. 

We are looking for a true gearhead who has designed and delivered a vehicle at a startup or high-growth company and is ready to drive new product introduction in a zero to one setting. The right person brings extreme ownership, strong leadership, radical candor, and the judgment to make hard calls on scope, cost, and schedule. 

Responsibilities 

• Own system architecture and hardware design for the entire vehicle, including mechanical, electrical, power electronics, battery, thermal, braking, and running gear 
• Own the overall hardware program schedule end to end,report on it regularly, and engage strategically with the CEO and leadership team on planning and execution 
• Lead, hire, and grow the Hardware Engineering team, setting a high bar for technical excellence and speed 
• Establish the system and hardware development process for new product introduction (NPI), including design reviews and release gates 
• Define and execute the vehicle verification and validation (V&V) plan, including end-of-line production checkouts 
• Set the 2-year hardware roadmap, including clear to build, buy, and partner decisions 
• Drive vehicle cost down in partnership with manufacturing, supply chain, and purchasing 
• Work closely with autonomy and software engineering so the vehicle is designed as one integrated system 
• Work with regulators and customers on technical requirements and safety cases 
• Serve on the senior leadership team and shape company strategy, enable customer success, and support fundraising 

Success in This Role 

• After 30 Days: You’ve completed an org health check of the hardware team and established a hiring plan. You’ve also taken full ownership of the hardware program schedule and are running regular team standups for status and execution.  
• After 60 Days: You’ve made the first one critical hire. You have released a full V&V plan for the vehicle and defined end-of-line production checkouts. 
• After 90 Days: You’ve released the system and hardware development process for NPI, completed all design reviews and defined a 2-year hardware roadmap. 
• After 180 Days: Deliver a 12-month cost-down plan with measurable per-vehicle cost reductions already achieved and fully execute the V&V plan. 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field 
• 10+ years of experience in hardware engineering, including 5+ years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams 
• Proven track record designing and delivering a complete vehicle, from concept through working vehicles in the field, at a startup or high-growth company 
• Experience owning whole-vehicle architecture across mechanical, electrical, battery, and control systems 
• Experience building and scaling engineering teams, including hiring engineers andgrowing them into leaders 
• Experience taking products through analysis, testing, validation, and safety certification in a regulated environment 
• Ability to operate in an early-stage environment and make fast, sound decisions with incomplete information 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Engineering leadership experience at an automotive start upor a similar high-velocity hardware company 
• Experience with vehicle manufacturing and production 
• Strong knowledge of electric powertrains and braking systems 
• Experience with high-voltage systems and autonomous platforms 
• Experience with rail, heavy equipment, trucking, or other commercial vehicles 
• Experience working with regulators such as the FRA or NHTSA 
• A hands-on builder outside of work, whether that's cars, bikes, robots, or anything with a motor