Lead Hardware Engineer

About algo1

algo1 is a VC-backed, stealth-mode company building behavioural AI for the retail industry. Our platform is designed from the ground up. No legacy, no patchwork systems, just a clean slate and a clear vision. Our mission is to bring the intelligence of modern machine learning directly to the in-store shopping experience.

The Role

We're hiring a Lead Hardware Engineer to own our hardware product end-to-end—from today's early units through retail pilots to mass deployment. You'll define the hardware strategy from the ground up, rather than inherit an existing roadmap.

You'll work closely with the founders and our two product leaders (B2C and B2B), supported by a strong engineering team in Pakistan and external design partners that you'll select and lead.

What You Will Own

• The hardware product end-to-end: From today's early units through retail trials and into large-scale deployment.

• Sourcing and supplier strategy: manufacturer selection, sourcing and management.

• Supply chain scaling: including certification, production ramp-up, logistics, and successful deployment into retail environments.

• External design partners: You will brief, select, and direct industrial design and engineering contractors.

• The supply chain ramp: certification, production scale-up, logistics and getting devices into stores ready to work.

   

Essentials

• Taken a physical product from prototype through EVT/DVT/PVT into scaled production.

• Shipped by coordinating design, engineering, and manufacturing through outsourced relationships, ideally with direct design-to-manufacturing experience in China.

• Owned ODM and contract manufacturing relationships and survived real supply chain disruption.

• Built consumer-grade hardware for demanding settings (retail, payments, logistics, mobility) where drop testing, IP ratings, and cleaning regimes are second nature.

   

The Details

• London-based, in person.

• Competitive pay plus meaningful equity.

• Full autonomy over hardware strategy, working directly with the founders.

We would love it hear from you if you've shipped products people rely on every day and they just keep working,