Director, Mechanical Engineering

About the role

Eight Sleep is seeking a leader to oversee our mechanical and product design engineering team in San Francisco. You will guide the development of our flagship Pod and a pipeline of future hardware, reporting directly to the Chief Product Officer. In this capacity, you will shape the technical vision for our core hardware platform while ensuring alignment with our broader business objectives. The role requires a strategic mindset capable of translating high-level product ambitions into actionable engineering plans. You will be responsible for fostering a culture of innovation and rigorous execution within the hardware organization. Success in this position hinges on your ability to manage multifaceted projects under aggressive timelines. You will own the end-to-end mechanical development process for our products.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Direct the full mechanical engineering development cycle for complex electromechanical systems.
• Manage and mentor a team of mechanical, soft goods, and prototype/test engineers.
• Drive technical decision-making regarding architecture, thermal management, fluid systems, mechanisms, and sensing.
• Coordinate with manufacturing partners in Asia to ensure production goals are met.
• Partner with executive leadership to define and execute the hardware product roadmap.
• Collaborate with electrical, software, clinical, operations, and finance teams to launch products.
• Establish internal processes, including design reviews and phase-gate systems, to maintain high efficiency.
• Evaluate and recommend new materials, manufacturing techniques, and tooling strategies.
• Own critical technical deliverables such as DFM analysis, validation protocols, and risk assessments.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison with external partners, including contract manufacturers and suppliers.
• Lead root cause analysis for production issues and drive corrective action plans to completion.
• Define and maintain standards for documentation, testing, and quality assurance.
• Guide the scoping and estimation of mechanical efforts for new product initiatives.
• Ensure all product designs meet regulatory, safety, and quality standards.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in complex electromechanical system development, such as medical devices, automotive, or consumer electronics.
• Minimum 2 years of direct management experience leading mechanical or product design engineers.
• Proven history of taking products from concept to high-volume production.
• Expertise in injection molding, sensor integration, mechanism design, DFM/DFA, tolerance analysis, and GD&T.
• BSME degree or equivalent.
• Ability and willingness to travel to China for supplier and team coordination.
• Commitment to a high-intensity work environment, including 60+ hour work weeks.
• Strong aptitude for solving ambiguous and technically challenging problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex engineering concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly scaling startup environment.
• Willingness to adhere to strict timelines and deliverables in a deadline-driven setting.
• Capability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously without compromising quality.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and supply chain constraints is mandatory.

Nice to have

• Proficiency in thermal engineering, fluid systems, actuators, and soft goods.

Skills & tools

• Mechanical engineering
• Product design
• Electromechanical system architecture
• Injection molding
• GD&T
• DFM/DFA
• Thermal and fluid systems
• Sensor integration

Practical notes

• Benefits include a company-provided Pod, daily lunch at the SF office, health/dental/vision insurance, supplemental life insurance, flexible PTO, commuter benefits, and paid parental leave.
• This position requires a commitment to working onsite in San Francisco for five days each week.
• The role involves international travel to coordinate with manufacturing partners in China.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position.
• The work environment demands a high level of energy and dedication, with expectations of extended hours during critical project phases.
• The compensation range provided reflects the base salary component of the total rewards package.
• Equity compensation details are outlined in separate offer documentation.
• The successful candidate will integrate with an existing hardware team and contribute to a demanding product development schedule.
• This role is integral to the company's strategy of delivering innovative hardware solutions in the consumer health space.