{"id":692955,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zone5technologies-director-of-hardware","title":"Director of Hardware","company":{"id":684780,"name":"Zone 5 Technologies","domain":"zone5technologies.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zone5technologies","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":94,"open_postings":44,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.045,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":114,"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"head","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Luis Obispo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":220000,"max":280000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":280000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AS9100","optional":false},{"name":"Cameo Systems Modeler","optional":false},{"name":"DO-160","optional":false},{"name":"MBSE","optional":false},{"name":"MIL-STD-461","optional":false},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2025-12-15T17:10:21Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-05-19","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T06:36:50Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":317,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":317},"description":"At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.\nWe're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.\nPosition Summary \nThe Director of Hardware leads Zone 5’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering functions, developing world-class hardware capabilities and ensuring disciplined, high-velocity execution across all programs. This role owns the strategic direction, functional excellence, and organizational development of both ME and EE teams while partnering closely with Programs, Systems Engineering, and Manufacturing to deliver integrated aerospace systems. \nYou will be accountable for building the people, processes, and architectures that enable Zone 5 to design, integrate, and produce hardware that is safe, reliable, manufacturable, and rapidly deployable. \nResponsibilities \nLead, mentor, and develop Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Managers and their teams. \nSet the strategic vision and roadmap for hardware capabilities, tools, and processes across Zone 5. \nEnsure hardware engineering delivers robust architectures, detailed designs, and high-quality integration support on schedule. \nPartner with Programs and IPTs to allocate resources, drive execution discipline, and resolve cross-functional issues. \nEstablish and maintain engineering standards for hardware design, analysis, review rigor, documentation, verification, and configuration control. \nEnsure compliance with applicable aerospace standards (AS9100, AS6500, DO-160, MIL-STD-461/704). \nOversee major design reviews and readiness events-PDR, CDR, TRR-ensuring hardware content meets technical and programmatic requirements. \nIdentify and execute capability investments (equipment, software, training) needed for functional scalability. \nGuide root-cause investigations and ensure systemic corrective actions across hardware disciplines. \nSupport proposal development by shaping hardware architectures, estimating labor, and defining execution approaches. \nServe as the senior hardware engineering representative in portfolio, business area, and executive-level reviews. \nQualifications \nBasic expectations for this role include a minimum of: \nB.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline. \n12+ years of hardware engineering experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or equivalent. \n5+ years leading engineering managers or multi-disciplinary hardware teams. \nDemonstrated experience developing hardware architectures and scaling engineering processes. \nStrong understanding of DFMA, configuration control, integration workflows, and test readiness. \nAbility to lead in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment with multiple active programs. \nOur ideal candidate has:\nExperience in UAS, missiles, loitering munitions, or complex electromechanical systems. \nFamiliarity with Solidworks, Altium, MBSE environments (Cameo), EVM, and AS6500-aligned program execution. \nExperience collaborating with vertically integrated manufacturing operations. \nPay range for this role\n$220,000—$280,000 USD\nWhat's in it for you:\nBenefits: \nCompetitive total compensation package \nComprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.\n401k with company-match \n3 weeks of paid time off each year\n40 hours of sick time\n12 annual company holidays\nWhy Join Zone 5 Technologies?\nInnovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.\nCollaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.\nCareer Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.\nIf you are passionate about unmanned aircraft technology and want to be a part of a dynamic and growing company, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and join the Zone 5 Technologies team! \nIn compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. \nZone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4797,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":12,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Drones & UAVs","Defense Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T01:26:29Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":18,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.652,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":317,"expected_fill_days":114,"reasons":["conf:3","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":280000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/zone5technologies-director-of-hardware","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/zone5technologies-director-of-hardware.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-29T07:59:10Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":12205,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-30T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":684780},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=684780"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fzone5technologies-director-of-hardware"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fzone5technologies-director-of-hardware"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fzone5technologies-director-of-hardware"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/zone5technologies-director-of-hardware\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fzone5technologies-director-of-hardware"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":692955}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"zone5technologies.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":692955},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. Docs: https://alion.io/developers"}}