Director-level hardware engineering leader at Fluence, an energy storage and renewables company. Based in Houston (hybrid), this role defines multi-generational hardware platform architectures, leads and mentors platform engineers, and owns designs from concept through prototyping, certification, and global manufacturing rollout.
Compensation
Not disclosed
Location
Houston, TX, US
Work setup
Hybrid
Seniority
Not specified
Employment
Contract
Experience
12+ years
Category
Hardware
Posted
Skills
acceptance-criteria
design-for-manufacturing
firmware
fmea
plm
program-management
prototyping
root-cause-analysis
sales-engineering
Must have
Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related hardware discipline
12+ years of progressive hardware engineering experience in complex electrical, mechanical, or power electronics systems
Demonstrated track record of conceptualizing, launching, and scaling successful multi-generational hardware platforms in global markets
Legally authorized to work in the US without employer sponsorship
Full description
Director – Platform Hardware Engineering
Location: USA-TX-Houston
Remote Type: Hybrid (2-3 days in Office)
Time Type: Full time
Job Description
Fluence (Nasdaq: FLNC) is a global market leader delivering intelligent energy storage and optimization software for renewables and storage. Our solutions and operational services are helping to create a more resilient grid and unlock the full potential of renewable portfolios. With gigawatts of successful implementations across nearly 50 markets, we are transforming the way we power our world for a more sustainable future. For more information, please visit fluenceenergy.com.
Job Description:
The Director – Platform Hardware Engineering is a leadership role responsible for defining and driving multi-platform hardware architecture, engineering strategy, and organizational capability across complex product portfolios. Reporting directly to Engineering Leadership (VP), the Platform Director leads and mentors a team of Platform Leaders and Engineers to ensure cohesive execution, technical leadership, platform modularity, high reliability, and operational excellence from concept through global deployment.
This leader operates at the intersection of long-term business strategy, hardware architecture, multi-generational product roadmaps, and cross-functional operational governance. The Platform Director owns portfolio-level Design-to-Cost goals, time-to-market performance, tactical & strategic capability partners’ alignment, and the deployment of engineering standards across global engineering teams.
Platform Architecture & Modularity: Define and drive multi-generational hardware platform architectures, establishing reusable building blocks, standard interfaces, and scalable options/variants across global project configurations.
Technology Roadmap: Lead technology trade-off studies, integration of innovative technologies (e.g., advanced power conversion, thermal systems, auxiliary integration).
2) Technical Leadership & Talent Development
Technical Leadership: Provide technical requirements direction to engineering leads and specialists across all workstreams and related disciplines.
Engineering Competency Development: Support Engineering leads to establish technical competency frameworks, engineering best practices, design standards, training programs, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
Culture of Engineering Excellence: Foster a culture of technical rigor, accountability, innovation, data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and ownership.
Technical Community Leadership: Build strong collaboration across global engineering teams and establish mechanisms for sharing architecture, design standards, lessons learned, and reusable solutions.
System and Component Requirements: Collaborate with the Systems Engineering to establish the System and Component Requirements in Jama.
3) Engineering Execution & Delivery
Workstream Planning: Align with the P2D gates and define the Engineering milestones for each of the gates.
Full-Lifecycle Ownership: Lead hardware engineering milestones across all release gates—from initial concept definition through prototyping, testing, validation, pilot builds, and full-scale manufacturing rollout.
Technical Requirements: Establish hardware design specifications, and acceptance criteria in alignment with international standards (IEC, UL, IEEE).
Cross-Functional Engineering Alignment: Collaborate with multi-disciplinary technical teams including Product Management, Project Engineering, Program Management, Engineering (mechanical, electrical hardware, Battery, PCS, Grid modeling, thermal engineering, system engineering), lab testing operations, NPI, Sourcing, Advanced Procurement and firmware/software interfaces to deliver cost-effective designs with supreme quality adhering to the program timelines.
Prototype Planning and Development: Coordinate prototype builds and engineering validation activities, ensuring hardware readiness for development milestones, stage-gate reviews, and certification testing.
Progress Updates and Issue Management: Provide executive-level reporting on technical progress, project status, key risks, resource requirements, and strategic recommendations.
4) Design for Excellence (DFX) & Quality Assurance
DFX Rulebook & Standards: Ensure the Engineering and NPI works together to embed Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Serviceability (DFS), Design for Quality (DFQ), and Design To Cost (DTC) rules early in the product design phase.
Quality Leadership for the Products: Partner with Quality engineering to champion Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for component non-conformances, and robust qualification protocols.
Standards & Compliance: Ensure design compliance to the grid codes, standards and market regulations as identified by the Compliance and certification teams
Product Management & Commercial Synergy: Partner closely with Product Management and Sales Engineering to validate the hardware engineering requirements, establish design-to-cost targets, and support complex technical bids.
Sustaining Hand-off support
Operations & Supply Chain Support: Work with Supply Chain, Procurement, and Contract Manufacturers during the proto-build, certification and System testing phases.
Strategic Alignment: Ensure Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial organizations remain aligned with the platform strategy and product roadmap.
Technical Documentation Planning·
Product Technical Support: Lead root-cause investigations and resolution of complex technical issues across design, testing, manufacturing, and field operations.
6) Product Life Cycle Management
Partner with the electrical / mechanical Design, Product Definition & Engineering PLM teams to plan and execute phased releases, ensuring on-time design deliverables at each stage gate.
Product Configuration efficiency: Ensure that the design teams practice effective variant management, leveraging design ‘options and variants’ to optimize product configurations and maintain design flexibility.
Academic Qualifications & Key RequirementsEducation: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related hardware discipline.
Experience:
12+ years of progressive hardware engineering experience in complex electrical, mechanical, or power electronics systems.
Demonstrated track record of conceptualizing, launching, and scaling successful multi-generational hardware platforms in global markets.
Our Culture
At Fluence, our culture is the foundation that drives our ambitious growth strategy and fuels our mission to transform the future of energy. Our core cultural pillars empower us to innovate, collaborate, and lead with purpose, ensuring we continue to deliver unparalleled value to our customers and the world.
Unleash Voices
We believe every voice matters. We encourage openness, active listening, and decisive action to create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to our success. We foster an environment where diverse perspectives are heard and valued, driving innovation and progress.
Customer Fluent
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to delivering exceptional value that exceeds expectations by understanding our customers' needs and adapting swiftly to meet them. Our deep focus on customer satisfaction drives us to continuously improve and innovate.
Infinite Impact
We are committed to creating the impossible. We push boundaries to deliver sustainable, game-changing solutions that shape a brighter, more energy-efficient future for all. Our team is passionate about making a lasting impact that will resonate for generations to come.
All In
We are all in for growth. Our teams are relentlessly focused on identifying and seizing opportunities that propel us forward. We embrace an ownership mindset, pushing ourselves and each other to accelerate progress and create lasting success.
Equal Opportunity Employer At Fluence, we believe great teams are built on a collaborative and connected culture. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome qualified applicants of all backgrounds. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.
Work Authorization To join our team, you’ll need to be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout your employment, without the need for employer sponsorship. Please note that Fluence does not sponsor work visas for this position.