NPI Engineer - Mechanical Systems

At HEN Technologies, we're building Physical AI for the real world—intelligent systems that sense, understand, and act in high-stakes physical environments. Our first application is transforming fire response: combining advanced fluid dynamics, IoT-enabled hardware, real-world operational data, and AI-powered decision support to help firefighters suppress fires faster, use less water, reduce fatigue, and improve safety. By connecting the physical layer of emergency response with predictive intelligence, HEN is building the infrastructure for a safer, more adaptive future. Role Overview The NPI Engineer will own the transition of new mechanical products from prototype and pilot builds into scalable production. This person will work cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, manufacturing partners, quality, and operations to ensure products are manufacturable, reliable, cost-effective, and built to HEN's quality standards. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on mechanical problem solving, supplier collaboration, production readiness, and building the systems needed to launch durable hardware products successfully. The NPI Engineer will work closely with the Head of Supply Chain and will play a key role in supplier qualification, build readiness, quality control, and launch execution. Key Responsibilities NPI & Launch Readiness Lead NPI activities for new mechanical products from prototype through pilot builds and production ramp. Develop and manage build plans, pilot run requirements, validation checklists, and production readiness criteria. Identify design, tooling, process, supplier, and quality risks before production launch. Coordinate engineering changes, manufacturing feedback, and issue resolution during pre-production and early production phases. Drive cross-functional launch readiness reviews with engineering, supply chain, quality, and manufacturing partners. Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturability Review mechanical designs for manufacturability, assembly, serviceability, durability, and cost. Partner with design engineering to refine tolerances, materials, finishes, assembly methods, and inspection requirements. Support DFM/DFA reviews for machined, cast, molded, formed, or assembled mechanical components. Translate product requirements into manufacturing and inspection requirements. Troubleshoot mechanical fit, function, assembly, sealing, durability, and reliability issues. Supplier & Manufacturing Partner Management Work closely with the Head of Supply Chain to onboard, qualify, and manage suppliers and contract manufacturing partners. Support supplier selection by assessing technical capability, quality systems, process controls, and production readiness. Review supplier process plans, control plans, inspection reports, and first article submissions. Lead technical discussions with suppliers to resolve manufacturing, quality, and yield issues. Support supplier audits, capability assessments, and corrective action plans as needed. Quality & Process Control Define incoming inspection criteria, critical-to-quality dimensions, functional test requirements, and acceptance standards. Support creation of control plans, inspection procedures, test fixtures, work instructions, and quality documentation. Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for prototype, pilot, and production issues. Monitor early production quality, yield, scrap, rework, and field feedback to identify improvement opportunities. Ensure mechanical products meet performance, reliability, and customer-use requirements before launch. Documentation & Cross-Functional Execution Maintain clear NPI documentation, including build records, issue trackers, risk logs, validation results, and launch checklists. Create and maintain BOMs, assembly documentation, inspection plans, and engineering change documentation in partnership with engineering and operations. Communicate launch status, risks, open issues, and mitigation plans to leadership. Help establish scalable NPI processes as HEN expands its product portfolio. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field. 3-6 years of experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering, product engineering, supplier quality, or hardware operations. Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including tolerances, materials, assemblies, mechanical testing, and manufacturing processes. Experience taking physical products from prototype or pilot builds into production. Hands-on experience with mechanical parts and assemblies, such as machined components, castings, molded parts, fasteners, seals, fixtures, enclosures, mechanisms, or other durable hardware components. Familiarity with DFM/DFA, GD&T, BOMs, engineering drawings, inspection plans, and production documentation. Experience working with external suppliers, contract manufacturers, or production partners. Strong problem-solving skills and experience with root cause analysis. Excellent communication skills and ability to work across engineering, supply chain, quality, and operations. Preferred Qualifications Experience with mechanical hardware products, industrial equipment, consumer hardware, appliances, automotive components, tools, medical devices, robotics, or other durable physical products. Experience with mechanical assemblies involving machined parts, castings, molded components, seals, fasteners, springs, gaskets, fixtures, mechanisms, or high-wear components. Familiarity with fluid, pressure, sealing, thermal, or durability requirements is helpful, but direct industry-specific experience is not required. Experience with quality tools such as FMEA, control plans, first article inspection, 8D, CAPA, SPC, or process capability studies. Experience developing test fixtures, inspection fixtures, assembly fixtures, or end-of-line functional test processes. Familiarity with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems. Experience working with domestic and international suppliers. CAD experience and ability to interpret and review mechanical drawings. Comfortable working in a startup or fast-moving hardware environment. What Success Looks Like New products move from prototype to production with clear build plans, quality standards, and supplier readiness. Mechanical and manufacturing risks are identified early and resolved before launch. Suppliers have the documentation, process controls, and inspection criteria needed to build consistently. Pilot builds produce actionable data that improves product quality and manufacturability. Production quality, reliability, and launch execution improve with each NPI launch. Location Livermore, CA Compensation $110,000 - $140,000 base salary, depending on experience, skills, and qualifications. Benefits and equity may be included as part of the total compensation package. How to Apply Please submit your resume and a brief note describing your experience launching mechanical products into production. Don't meet every single requirement? We still encourage you to apply. Research has shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every qualification, and we don't want that to stop great people from considering HEN Technologies. HEN Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where people from different backgrounds can do meaningful work together. If you're excited about our mission and this role, but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity at HEN.