Engineering/Product Development Manager

HV Switchgear – Product & Market Lead (U.S.)
Location: California (preferred) or Remote (U.S.) with periodic travel

The Opportunity

root/edge is partnering with a venture-backed, fast-scaling grid-equipment company that is launching its first high-voltage switchgear platform for the U.S. market. This is a true ground-up effort. There is no legacy product line and no predefined architecture.

This role is designed for an engineering leader who wants full ownership—someone who can define the technical vision, shape the product roadmap, and guide decisions on build vs. license vs. acquire as the company establishes a credible HV switchgear presence in the U.S.

You will sit at the intersection of engineering, product strategy, manufacturing, and market requirements, acting as the internal authority on what the U.S. HV switchgear offering should be and how it gets built.

What You Will Do

• Lead the definition and development of the company’s first HV switchgear platform for the U.S. utility and developer market

• Own the technical and product strategy, including:

  • Platform architecture and design priorities

  • Performance, safety, and reliability targets

  • Qualification and commercialization milestones

• Evaluate existing global technologies, designs, and architectures and determine their suitability or adaptability for the U.S. market

• Assess and guide potential technology transfer, licensing, or acquisition strategies, evaluating:

  • IP strength and differentiation

  • Manufacturability and scalability

  • Lifecycle cost and risk

  • Alignment with U.S. standards and customer expectations

• Translate U.S. utility standards, customer specifications, and IEEE/ANSI requirements into clear, actionable engineering direction

• Provide technical leadership across core HV switchgear design areas, including:

  • Interrupter and contact systems

  • Arc-quenching technologies

  • Insulation systems and dielectric performance

  • Busbar design and short-circuit capability

• Guide mechanical design direction, including:

  • Enclosures and structures

  • Operating mechanisms and linkages

  • Thermal behavior and cooling

  • Seismic qualification and environmental protection

• Lead the integration of controls, protection, and digital systems, including:

  • Relays and protection schemes

  • Sensors and monitoring

  • SCADA interfaces and control cabinets

• Partner closely with global engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure designs are safe, manufacturable, and reliable

• Define and lead the U.S. qualification pathway, including:

  • Type testing strategy

  • FAT procedures

  • Certifications and utility acceptance

• Work with sourcing and operations to define component strategy, materials, supplier requirements, and supply-chain architecture

• Collaborate with applications engineering and sales to inform early customer conversations and ensure the product reflects real market needs

• Build internal engineering standards, design rules, workflows, and review processes for the HV switchgear product line

• Operate with a startup mindset—building systems, tools, and processes as the product and organization scale

Required Experience

• 10+ years of experience in HV switchgear design, product development, or engineering leadership

• Deep technical expertise across electrical, mechanical, and controls engineering domains

• Strong understanding of U.S. HV switchgear design practices, utility standards, and qualification pathways

• Experience launching new switchgear products or adapting global designs for the U.S. market

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate multiple technical and commercial pathways and recommend a clear direction

• Experience assessing technology transfer, licensing, or acquisition opportunities is a strong advantage

• Comfort working with global engineering and manufacturing teams

• Strong communicator who can clearly convey design intent and product strategy to internal teams and external stakeholders

• Experience in a startup, scale-up, or fast-moving new-product environment—or a strong desire to operate in one

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering preferred

  • Candidates with mechanical or controls backgrounds and deep HV switchgear experience will also be considered

Why This Role

• Architect and lead the company’s first HV switchgear platform for the U.S. market

• Operate at the intersection of engineering, product strategy, manufacturing, and technology partnerships

• Join a high-growth, venture-backed organization where engineering leadership directly drives market success

• Build a new product line from zero and shape how critical grid infrastructure is delivered over the next decade

About root/edge

root/edge is a boutique recruiting and talent advisory firm focused on the energy transition, power infrastructure, and advanced technology markets. We partner closely with founders and leadership teams to build the technical and commercial talent required to scale critical infrastructure businesses.