Hardware Engineering Lead - Prototyping to Manufacturing

Mesodyne is seeking a Hardware Engineering Lead for its Somerville, MA location to guide hardware prototyping and transition to manufacturing. The role involves leading a multi-disciplinary team, managing projects, and contributing to hands-on engineering work. Candidates should have a strong background in mechanical engineering, experience in hardware development, and leadership skills. This position is crucial for the company's innovative power generation technology.
Company Description

Mesodyne is a startup company revolutionizing power generation with its innovative LightCell technology--using thermophotovoltaics to provide efficient, silent, reliable, long-endurance power from any fuel. By bridging the gap between batteries and internal combustion engines, Mesodyne's LightCell technology provides more than a 10x improvement in endurance for unmanned vehicles, wearables, and various other equipment. At Mesodyne, we are committed to bringing groundbreaking products to the industrial and defense sectors, with multiple existing contracts and numerous upcoming business opportunities.

Role Description

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Hardware Engineering Lead to guide our hardware prototyping efforts as we transition to our next stage of growth. Reporting directly to the CTO, you will lead a talented team of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers. Your primary focus will be spearheading the design, build, and testing of next-generation LightCell prototypes. This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced startup environment requiring technical depth, management and organizational skills, and external-facing professionalism. There is significant opportunity for impact and growth.

Responsibilities:
• Lead and mentor a small, multi-disciplinary hardware team, fostering a collaborative and hands-on engineering culture through rapid prototyping cycles.
• Set clear technical direction and priorities for the team, ensuring alignment with project goals and company objectives.
• Manage prototype development projects from concept to completion, ensuring milestones are met, timelines are maintained, and technical risks are identified and mitigated.
• As a “player-coach,” actively contribute to hands-on engineering work, including mechanical design, analysis, fabrication, testing, and troubleshooting of complex hardware components and integrated systems.
• Conduct regular design reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring design integrity, manufacturability, and accurate documentation (including CAD models).
• Champion the transition of prototypes to scalable, manufacturable designs, overseeing both in-house and outsourced manufacturing processes.
• Manage project reporting and communication regarding status, progress, and technical challenges to the executive team, customers/sponsors, and external partners/vendors.
• Collaborate closely with the CTO and broader engineering teams to define technical requirements, strategy, and architecture for new prototypes.

Qualifications:
• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of experience in hands-on hardware development, including design (CAD proficiency essential), analysis, fabrication, and testing of complex mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Proven experience leading or mentoring engineers or small technical teams. Formal management experience is not required, but leadership aptitude is key.
• Demonstrated success in taking hardware concepts through the prototyping stage in any sector (consumer, medical, aerospace, defense, etc.)
• Broad technical knowledge, including familiarity with electrical engineering principles sufficient to lead EE team members in integrated system design. Experience with relevant areas such as thermal management, fluid systems, power generation, or materials science is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to tackle complex, open-ended challenges.
• Strong communication (written and verbal) and collaboration skills, comfortable interacting with leadership, team members, customers, and vendors.
• Adaptability and enthusiasm for working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.
• A portfolio showcasing previous hardware projects or builds is highly encouraged.