Lead Engineer - New Robot

Company: Whisker
Location: Auburn Hills
Posted on: May 3, 2024

Job Description:

Description:Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether its a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 500+ passionate team members.What Youll Do:The Lead Engineer will lead a cross-functional hardware project team to design, develop, validate and launch next generation robotic pet care devices. Leads the hardware engineering activities, resources, and ensures cross company communication to facilitate product completion on schedule within budget.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.Leads a connected pet robot program involving multiple functions and project teams to drive the hardware engineering development and implementation.Acts as the technical lead for all aspects of the specific device.Guides other engineering team members to ensure we meet the needs of the product and the customers.Acts as the single point of contact to provide updates, insight, and recommendations concerning the engineering details of a specific program.Represents the Engineering team for key hardware deliverables.Leads Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and collaborates with members of various teams in the division to deliver the product.Develops and directs the development of device schedules, critical deliverables, and budgets, advising on resource allocation plans and other support requirements for the assigned program.Is a leadership partner to other aspects of the business, including but not limited to the software development team, operations, marketing, and our other program management functions.Influences and manages the activities of Whiskers suppliers to meet the right combination of form factor, weight, features, and performance to align with product requirements and deliver a high quality, high volume design on time.Works closely with Supply Chain to ensure that the product design and materials are ready for each prototype build.Ensures the product is ready for release to a high volume manufacturing environment with suitable quality, yields and cycle times.Manages activities of supporting project teams and development partners; ensures progress against established plan and makes determinations based on analysis of business information to alter or update schedule, product risks and resource allocation to meet product requirements and development schedule.Communicates program progress, escalations, and issue analysis to the leadership team and product stakeholders; collaborates with management, operations and development partners to recommend and implement changes to products, processes, or other aspects to resolve escalated issues, produce solutions, and ensure adherence to product requirement, budgets and established product roadmaps and schedules.Drives innovation and integration of new technologies and quality initiatives into projects and activities in engineering and manufacturing organizations.Leads and provides guidance and mentoring to engineering staff across multiple skill levelsWill perform additional responsibilities when requiredRequirements:What Youll Bring:Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent6+ years of technical experienceProven leader of product hardware development in the consumer electronics and/or small appliance spaceExtensive experience with using project and program planning tools and software packages to create, manage, and track project resultsExperience with device product development, electronic design, mechanical design/tooling, high volume manufacturingExcellent analytical and problem solving skillsDemonstrated business acumen and successful experience managing all aspects of programs, including communicating with stakeholders and directing cross-functional teams and resourcesExcellent written and verbal communication skillsAbility to effectively communicate program plans, proposals, and results, and negotiate options at senior management levelsMay require travel support or manage development activitiesMaintains confidentiality of proprietary informationAbility to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptionsA high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate othersAbility to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleaguesComfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)Not Required but Nice to Have!Software design understanding and integrationBenefits & Purrks:Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the why, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrows pet productsplus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insuranceLife InsurancePTO14 Paid HolidaysPaid Parental Leave401K with 4% MatchFlexible Work ArrangementsTop of the line equipmentStatement of Inclusivity:We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.#onsite1by Jobble

Keywords: Whisker, Dearborn , Lead Engineer - New Robot, Engineering , Auburn Hills, Michigan