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Quantum-Systems is seeking a Team Lead for Autonomy Hardware to own the hardware backbone of their ground autonomy stack. In this player-coach role, you will build and lead a high-performing team while remaining hands-on in design, verification, and integration.
Your core responsibilities include:
Team Leadership: Build, lead, and enable a high-performing autonomy hardware team. Set priorities, ensure delivery quality, and establish best practices for design, documentation, and review. You will stay hands-on, challenging designs, reviewing prototypes, and testing alongside your team.
Hardware Ownership: Own the autonomy compute platform and sensorset architecture, including cameras, radar, lidar, IMU, and connectivity. Define and evolve the network topology of the autonomy kit. Benchmark compute platforms and sensors to drive make/buy and vendor decisions. Integrate the hardware kit into various vehicle types: trucks from OEM partners, external UGVs, and Quantum-Systems' own Mandrill UGV.
Design & Integration: Own mechanical, electrical, and electronic integration including mounting concepts, power distribution, schematics, harness design, and interfaces. Design for robustness in demanding environmental conditions (vibration, temperature, EMC). Drive the full design process from concept to industrialization: schematics, harness design, CAD, and simulation. Build and run verification and validation setups from breadboards to vehicle-level testing. Ensure designs are manufacturable and scalable.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with software and prototyping teams to align hardware with the autonomy stack. Collaborate with vehicle manufacturers (truck OEMs and UGV partners). Align with air and sea domains to reuse hardware and leverage economies of scale. Partner with central supply chain management across the full lifecycle.
Required Qualifications:
- Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or comparable field
- 10+ years of hands-on hardware development experience
- 2+ years in a leadership or team lead role
- Background in automotive, defense, or robotics with experience integrating hardware into vehicles and working with OEMs
- Strong expertise in sensor technologies and embedded/edge compute platforms
- Proven VnV experience with breadboards, yellow boards, benchmarking, and network topology design
- Command of the full hardware design process including robust design for harsh conditions, schematics, harness design, CAD, and simulation
- Experience with supply chain teams from vendor engagement to service agreements
- Strong communication and project management skills
- Fluent in German and English
- Player-coach mindset with high ownership and pragmatism
