VP of Hardware

VP of Hardware LocationMountain ViewEmployment TypeFull timeDepartmentHardwareAt Rhoda AI, we’re building the next generation of generalist intelligent robots. We own the full robotics stack from high-performance hardware and robot systems to the infrastructure and state-of-the-art foundation world models that control our robots. Our robots are designed to be generalists capable of operating in complex, real-world environments and handling long-tail edge cases, made possible by our cutting edge research and end-to-end system design. We've raised over $450M and are investing aggressively in model research, infrastructure, hardware development, and manufacturing scale-up to make generalist robotics a reality.We are looking for a VP of Hardware Engineering to lead the design, development, and scaling of Rhoda's robotic systems from concept through volume production. This is a critical leadership role responsible for building and managing a high-performance hardware organization, defining product architecture, and delivering best-in-class systems that meet the demands of real-world industrial deployment. Robotics has historically been limited by hardware systems that cannot operate reliably in real-world environments at scale. At Rhoda, we are solving that problem.What You'll DoProduct & System LeadershipPartner with Product Management to define system requirements and product roadmapsTranslate product requirements into clear engineering specifications and system architecturesDrive end-to-end hardware development across mechanical, electrical, and system domainsDesign & DevelopmentLead the design and development of robotic systems including manipulation platforms, end effectors, sensor integration, and compute and control systemsEnsure systems are robust to real-world operating conditions (variability, wear, safety, uptime)Execution & DeliveryOversee full product lifecycle: Concept → Prototype → Validation → NPI → Volume ProductionBuild and manage rigorous test and validation processes (functional, reliability, safety)Establish engineering processes and standards to support rapid iteration without compromising qualityManufacturing & ScaleLead New Product Introduction (NPI) and transition to volume productionWorking together with operations and supply chain teams, develop and manage relationships with contract manufacturers and key suppliersDrive cost optimization, yield improvement, and supply chain resilienceCompliance & SafetyOversee safety engineering and certification processes (CE, ISO, etc.)Ensure systems meet regulatory and industrial deployment requirements globallyTeam Building & CultureBuild and lead a world-class hardware engineering team across mechanical, electrical, and systems engineeringEstablish a culture of execution, ownership, and first-principles problem solvingDrive bold innovation across the hardware organization — encourage the team to push beyond existing approaches, rapidly iterate, and learn from real-world dataWhat We're Looking For15+ years of experience in hardware/system development, including senior leadership rolesProven track record of taking complex hardware systems from concept to volume productionDeep experience across the full product lifecycle: requirements definition, system architecture, design & development, test & validation, NPI & manufacturing scale-upStrong experience with contract manufacturing and global supply chainsExperience leading safety, certification, and compliance effortsDemonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teamsExperience working closely with product management and cross-functional teamsNice to Have (But Not Required)Experience building and shipping commercially scaled robotic systemsBackground in robotics, automation, or industrial systemsExperience with high-reliability systems deployed in real-world environmentsFamiliarity with hardware/software/AI system integrationCandidates without direct robotics experience are encouraged to apply if...