Chief Engineer

About SwitchBoxSwitchBox is a full-service engineering consulting firm delivering hardware, software, and systems solutions for advanced mobility, energy, defense, and industrial applications. We work with startups, Tier 1 suppliers, OEMs, and emerging technology companies to solve complex engineering challenges from concept through production.Our engineers are trusted advisors who combine deep technical expertise with practical execution. We value curiosity, ownership, and collaboration — and we look for people who can navigate ambiguity while delivering outstanding results.What Makes This Role DifferentThis is not a traditional engineering role. It is not a traditional project manager role. And it is not a business development role.It is all three — at once, on any given day.At SwitchBox, this person serves as a technical right hand to the VP of Engineering, helping integrate delivery across the company. You will lead real engineering work for real customers, help scope and quote new projects, run programs from concept through production, and jump into the integration garage when that's what's needed most. You will context-switch often, sometimes within the same hour, and that will energize you rather than slow you down.We are looking for someone who has been to the racetrack and the boardroom. Someone who has built things with their hands and sold solutions with their words. Someone who reads a customer's problem statement and immediately sees the system architecture, the risks, the phased plan, and the honest price.What Success Looks LikeWithin your first year, you will be trusted to:Support the VP of Engineering in running a high-performing consulting engineering organizationLead projects from Phase 0 (concept definition) through production — across multiple simultaneous programsTranslate loosely defined customer needs into phased, risk-aware technical execution plansDevelop and deliver credible quotes and proposals that reflect deep understanding of customer goalsBe the person teammates and customers turn to when things get complicatedStep into the integration garage, the customer kickoff, or the technical design review — whichever is most needed that dayPrimary ResponsibilitiesTechnical DeliveryLead engineering programs through SwitchBox's phased development process — from concept definition (Phase 0), through electrical logic and controls/systems development (Phase 1), prototype design and documentation, validation, and production handoffDevelop system requirements, functional architectures, interface definitions, and integration strategiesCoordinate work across controls, electrical, software, mechanical, manufacturing, and validation disciplinesIdentify the highest-risk assumptions early and sequence work to maximize learning while minimizing program riskLead customer technical discussions, design reviews, and milestone reviewsBe hands-on when needed — in the integration garage, on the bench, or on the shop floorProgram LeadershipRun projects: own the execution plan, schedule, risk register, and customer communicationEscalate risks early with proposed solutions, balancing technical excellence, timing, cost, and customer prioritiesContext-switch across multiple programs and customers without losing the thread on any of themMentor engineers and contribute to engineering standards and best practicesCommercial and Customer EngagementSupport quoting and proposal development — scope, price, and structure programs that are technically credible and commercially soundUnderstand customer problems at depth: what they are trying to achieve, why it matters, and what success looks like for themActively identify new opportunities within existing customer relationships and new marketsRepresent SwitchBox as a trusted technical advisor, not just a vendorIntegration and OperationsServe as a force multiplier for the VP of Engineering — help integrate delivery across teams, surface issues before they become problems, and keep work movingBridge the gap between technical execution and company-level prioritiesBe willing to own whatever is needed, even if it is not on the job descriptionCore CompetenciesProcess Fluency: Comfortable working within a structured, phase-gated development process (ASPICE-inspired or similar). Understands why documentation, phase reviews, and configuration management matter — and how to apply them without slowing a fast-moving team down.Technical Depth: Strong working knowledge in at least one primary domain — controls/embedded software preferred, but electrical systems engineering, mechanical integration, or a closely adjacent discipline is also a strong fit. Ability to navigate across domains without needing to be an expert in all of them.Commercial Acumen: Can read a Statement of Work, develop a credible scope and quote, and hold a business-level conversation with a customer. Understands margins, risk, and what it means to win the right work.Risk Thinking: Proactively identifies gaps, unknowns, and risks — and brings proposed mitigations, not just problems.Cross-Functional Leadership: Effective at working with and coordinating engineers across disciplines, without requiring direct authority over them.Hands-On Capability: Comfortable getting into the details — on the bench, in the garage, or in the code — when the situation calls for it.Communication: Concise, credible, and adaptable — whether writing a technical specification, presenting to a customer, or walking a team through a build plan in the shop.Background and Experience10+ years of engineering experience in automotive, mobility, defense, energy, or a closely adjacent fieldDemonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering programs — from concept to delivered hardwareBackground that includes both technical execution and customer or commercial exposure (consulting, contract engineering, or startup experience is a strong signal)Experience with structured development processes: ASPICE, ISO 26262, V-model, or equivalentHands-on prototype build or vehicle integration experienceProject or program management experience — not necessarily as a PM title, but as the person who owned outcomesMechanical engineering foundation is a plus; the ability to think like a systems engineer across domains is requiredYou'll Thrive Here If You...Are energized by context switching, not slowed down by itAre equally comfortable in a customer meeting and under the hoodThink in systems and communicate in plain languageHave built things, not just designed them on paperUnderstand that great engineering and great business belong in the same roomTake pride in helping a team succeed, even when your contribution is invisibleAre the person people call when something is hard, unclear, or going sidewaysSwitchBox is an equal opportunity employer. We are building a team that reflects the diversity of the problems we solve.