Director of Optical and Mechanical

About the Team:

Born at X, Google's Moonshot Factory, Taara is on a mission to connect billions of people lacking abundant and affordable internet today by pioneering the way we use light to deliver faster, cheaper, and more reliable connectivity. We are a small, dynamic team with a passion for solving challenging problems that lead to high-impact advances in technology. Join us to light the way for bridging the digital divide and illuminating the future.

About the Role:

As our Director of Optical and Mechanical at Taara, you will play a pivotal role in a mission to connect billions of people who lack affordable and abundant internet access today. Your work on our wireless optical communication systems won't just advance technology, it will directly impact lives by providing access to information, education, and economic opportunities.

You will spearhead the development of our advanced wireless optical communication systems from concept to market-ready products. This position centers on leading a multidisciplinary optics, opto-mechanical and mechanical team and driving comprehensive system integration and hardware testing initiatives. Working closely with cross-functional leaders, you will architect cutting-edge wireless optical communication systems that push the boundaries of current technology.

Our Culture & Your Growth:

We operate with the agility and passion of a startup. Our culture is built on first-principles thinking, moving fast, and a supportive environment where you'll work alongside brilliant, mission-driven engineers and industry thought leaders. We have a strong growth culture where we believe in building great people as much as great products.

This role offers a unique opportunity to not only lead a team but also to grow as a technical and strategic leader. You'll be instrumental in developing next-generation technology, and your experience here will give you unparalleled expertise in wireless optical communication and systems integration. You'll have the opportunity to mentor others, shape a team, and build a career at the forefront of a groundbreaking field.

How you will make a 10x impact:

- Lead and manage the optics, opto-mechanical and mechanical team developing next-generation wireless optical communication technologies

- Own the optics, opto-mechanical and mechanical design roadmap and drive technical direction across hardware initiatives

- Provide strong cross-functional leadership with proven team management, execution, and stakeholder influence capabilities

- Mentor and develop team members to build deep technical expertise and leadership capabilities

- Drive end-to-end hardware system design, integration, and comprehensive testing protocols

- Build and expand lab capabilities to support advanced hardware development and validation

- Develop robust optical test processes and infrastructure to ensure product reliability and performance including test setups emulating environmental channel conditions such as motion, precipitation and atmospheric disturbances

- Coordinate optical assembly hardware validation testing including thermal, shock, vibration, and environmental stress testing

- Establish testing methodologies that validate system performance under diverse operational scenarios

What you should have:

- Education: Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering or related technical discipline.

- Experience: 10+ years of industry experience in hardware engineering with demonstrated progression in technical leadership.

- Leadership: Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in complex hardware development projects.

- Technical Expertise: Deep technical expertise in optical and mechanical design, modeling and simulation.

- Ability to work in the Sunnyvale office at least 3 days onsite per week

It’d be great if you also have:

- Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field.

- Experience in photonics, or wireless communication technologies.

- Background in outdoor/harsh environment hardware design and testing.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $210,000 - $260,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.