We’re looking for an experienced and highly technical leader to scale our HW engineering team.
Location: UK - hybrid (based in our London Euston office) or remote (1-2x a month in the office), we’re also open to exceptional remote candidates based in US or EU.
About Yoto
Yoto is a screen-free interactive audio platform for kids. We make carefully connected audio players that kids control, with no microphones, cameras or ads. We have a catalogue of audio that inspires creative play and learning with 1,000+ titles in our card store from top creators, publishers and labels - think Disney, Marvel, Roald Dahl and Universal Music. We also create Yoto Originals.
* Featured in Bloomberg’s 25 UK startups to watch in 2023.
* Ranked 9th in Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2024.
* Second fastest growing tech company in the UK, in Deloitte Fast50 2023.
* Named one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Inventions of 2020.
* We’re 140+ employees spread across the UK, US and France.. and growing!
We’re on a mission to be the soundtrack of childhood, and help families on their own unique adventures. By creating products that inspire independent play, we help families discover and grow with an inspiring world of audio - and we would like you to help us achieve it!
Yoto’s Hardware Team
We are a growing team with a lot of experience and passion for developing connected consumer audio products, taking them from concept through to mass production. We work closely with our internal embedded OS development and product teams, key third party suppliers and our design and Far East manufacturing partners. We are focused on designing reliable, easy to use, innovative and fun products using the latest technologies.
Director of Hardware Engineering
The Director of Hardware Engineering reports directly to the Co-Founder/CTO and is responsible for leading the hardware engineering team to design, develop, and implement innovative hardware products. This role requires a combination of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and project management skills to ensure the successful delivery and field operation of high-quality hardware products that align with Yoto's product vision.
What you’ll be doing:
1. Leadership:
o Develop and communicate the HW engineering vision and strategy.
o Scale, structure, lead and mentor a team of HW engineers.
o Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the hardware team.
o Implement and refine engineering processes and best practices to optimise efficiency and productivity.
2. Technical Expertise:
o Provide technical guidance and support to the hardware team.
o Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in hardware technology and integrate relevant innovations into product development.
o Troubleshoot and resolve complex hardware design and production issues.
3. Product Development:
o Oversee all hardware products development projects from design to end of life.
o Lead the design and development of cutting-edge technology applicable for Yoto products.
o Oversee the creation of detailed hardware specifications, prototypes, and testing plans.
o Ensure that all hardware products meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
o Identify potential risks and challenges in hardware development projects and develop mitigation strategies to address technical, schedule, and budget risks.
4. Product Quality:
o Develop and implement rigorous quality assurance processes for hardware design, testing, and validation to ensure that all Yoto hardware products meet the highest standards of durability, performance, and safety.
o Collaborate with Customer Happiness, Quality, SW Engineering and Data teams and manufacturing and oversee the continuous improvement of products already in the market.
o Ensure robust product lifecycle management practices to maintain the relevance and functionality of existing products.
o Establish safety protocols and compliance with global safety standards, ensuring that all hardware products are thoroughly tested and certified.
5. Budget and Resource Management:
o Develop and manage the hardware department budget.
o Optimise resource allocation to maximise efficiency and output.
o Identify and procure necessary tools, equipment, and technologies.
6. Stakeholder Communication:
o Act as the primary point of contact for all hardware-related inquiries and issues.
o Provide key inputs for the product roadmap and align with the New Product Development and Procurement Directors.
o Prepare and present reports on hardware development progress and performance to senior management.
o Collaborate with external partners to ensure successful product delivery.
7. IP Protection:
o Identify and protect innovative hardware solutions through the development of intellectual property (IP) strategies.
o Work with cross-functional teams to embed IP considerations early in the product development cycle.
o Maintain an up-to-date understanding of relevant industry patents and trends to guide strategic decision-making.
What you’ll bring:
* Proven experience delivering complex hardware products to market, from concept through to mass production.
* Experience scaling and leading an engineering team.
* Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and RF engineering principles.
* Deep understanding of technologies relevant to Yoto products (audio and acoustic design, NFC, BT, WiFi, batteries and power management, microprocessors, memory, display technologies etc).
* Experience in managing relationships with large-scale manufacturing and supply chain partners.
* Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to inspire and guide teams to success.
* Knowledge of quality management principles and practices.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
* Strong attention to detail, organisational skills, and proactiveness.
Salary: £85,000 - £105,000 based on experience. We never want to miss out on speaking to great candidates, so please don't let our banding put you off getting in touch.
What you can expect from Yoto:
* Flexibility: Hybrid working with a choice based approach.
* Financial: Generous share option programme and income protection.
* Health & Wellness: Private Medical Insurance or Wellbeing Allowance.
* Time Off: 25 days of holiday per year, plus bank holidays.
* Helping Families: Variety of family-friendly leave.
* People & Planet: Volunteer days and a Book Allowance.
* Fun Perks: You receive your very own Yoto player and starter pack of cards!
Equity and Diversity
At Yoto, our mission is to be the soundtrack of childhood, and help families on their own unique adventures. Our success is rooted in unwavering commitment to our core principles.
Please only apply or engage with Yoto jobs posted on our careers page.
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