Head of Hardware

Company
: Cutting-edge Global Sports Technology and Data

Role
: Head of Hardware (Embedded Systems)

Location
:
Cape Town (Hybrid)

Introduction:

Our client is redefining what's possible in live sports performance analytics. They build ultra-low-latency tracking systems using
Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
and
motion sensing
to capture every movement of players and balls in real time.

The Role:

We are assisting our client source for their
Head of Hardware
to lead the NPD, QA and Compliance teams and to take a leading role in the design and validation of their next generation ball and player tracking electronics.

This role is critical as they scale into elite Soccer and and American Football leagues. You will also be responsible for overseeing our client's external industrial design partners, who will handle mechanical / industrial design, PCB layout and bring-up under your technical direction and scrutiny.

Overview:

The
Head of Hardware
owns the full hardware development function. You will lead the NPD, QA, and Compliance teams, set technical direction for hardware strategy, and take a hands-on role in designing, prototyping, and validating embedded electronic systems for our client's cutting-edge tracking platforms.

This role combines leadership, architecture-level decision making, and practical engineering. You will guide designs from concept through mass production, collaborate across mechanical, firmware, and RF engineering, and ensure our client's products meet stringent reliability, safety, and performance requirements in demanding real-world sports environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Electronics Design & Validation:

• Translate product and system requirements into detailed electronic architecture and design specifications.
• Design digital, analogue, power-management, and sensor integration circuitry for ultra-low power embedded systems.
• Drive schematic capture, PCB layout reviews, component selection, and design documentation.
• Develop test plans and validate prototypes through bench testing, environmental stress testing, and live field trials with athletes.
• Perform hands-on debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and RF tools.
• Ensure robust performance across temperature, shock, vibration, battery life, and RF environments typical of elite sports.

Product Development Lifecycle:

• Own the end-to-end hardware lifecycle: concept → architecture → prototyping → EVT/DVT/PVT → certification → manufacturing scale-up.
• Work closely with mechanical engineering to ensure optimal integration of electronics into balls, wearables, anchors, and accessories.
• Collaborate with embedded software and external RF test houses to design architectures that optimise performance, link-budget, reliability, power and cost.
• Ensure documentation, change management, and version control are followed rigorously from early design through production release.

Technical Leadership:

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team (NPD, QA, Compliance), including goal setting, prioritisation, and technical mentorship.
• Facilitate design reviews, architecture discussions, and engineering best practices.
• Define and enforce DfM, DfT, reliability engineering processes, and compliance standards.
• Improve internal workflows, testing capacity, and validation methodologies as the hardware team scales.

Cross-Team Collaboration:

• Partner with product management and project management to balance technical feasibility, cost, timelines, and strategic value.
• Engage directly with suppliers, EMS manufacturers, and test labs to manage prototypes, pilot builds, and production lines.
• Oversee certification activities (CE, FCC, UKCA, etc.) and ensure regulatory requirements are incorporated early in the design cycle.
• Support operations, manufacturing, and customer success teams with hardware insights and root-cause analyses.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Degree in Electronics/Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in electronic hardware design for embedded systems (low-power MCU-based platforms preferred).
• Proven experience taking products from concept through to production and certification.
• Strong proficiency with schematic design and PCB layout tools (Altium strongly preferred).
• Deep understanding of digital communications protocols (SPI, I²C, UART, USB, etc.).
• Excellent debugging and analytical skills with lab equipment and measurement tools.
• Demonstrated ability to work across mechanical, firmware, and RF disciplines.
• Strong communicator with experience working with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Passion for building robust, elegant, real-world electronics.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with RF systems including GNSS, Bluetooth, UWB, NFC, or WiFi.
• Familiarity with CE/FCC/UKCA certification and EMC/EMI requirements.
• Knowledge of power optimization techniques for battery-operated systems.
• Experience designing rugged or real-time systems for harsh environments.
• Background in sports technology, consumer hardware or military hardware sectors.

Reporting To:

• VP of Engineering

Working Closely With:

• CTO
• Embedded Software Engineering
• Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain
• Mechanical Design
• Product Management