Hardware Product Design Lead

This senior role leads hardware design governance and system architecture for Brightstar Lottery's next generation retail hardware products, ensuring cohesive, manufacturable, and scalable designs from concept through engineering execution. Based in West Greenwich, RI with a hybrid work model, the position offers a salary range of USD 90,856 to 170,257 per year. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Owns hardware design direction and the system architecture for new retail products.
• Has the final say on design standards and component selection within an approved strategy.
• When product management defines the vision and requirements, ensures those concepts become cohesive, manufacturable, and scalable designs.
• This newly established role closes a gap between product strategy and engineering execution, owning design governance and system architecture for new retail hardware products to eliminate fragmented decisions and accelerate delivery with a single point of accountability for hardware design standards.
• Deliver end to end hardware design frameworks for at least one next generation retail product such as POS terminals, kiosks, vending machines, or peripherals.
• Translate product requirements into system architecture and component specifications that engineering can execute without rework.
• Establish design standards balancing industrial aesthetics, cost targets, and reliability.
• Drive early engagement with manufacturing partners to optimize for scalability and cost.
• Ensure integration of advanced components such as imaging systems and embedded electronics without compromising performance or compliance.
• Influences engineering priorities, vendor partnerships, and industrial design alignment.
• Provides input on hardware design, prototyping, and vendor selection to ensure alignment with cost targets and manufacturability.
• Offers recommendations for prototyping and component sourcing.
• Initially an individual contributor role; may evolve to lead a small design governance team.
• Operates as a builder who creates new design frameworks and enforces standards.
• Influences highly technical stakeholders without direct authority.
• Balances commercial priorities with technical constraints under tight timelines.
• Partners deeply with product management, engineering, procurement, and field services.

Requirements

• 10–15 years in hardware product development or design leadership roles.
• Proven experience with electromechanical systems and embedded components.
• Strong understanding of imaging systems and optics for retail or machine vision applications.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or equivalent).

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

12–18 Month Success Outcomes

• Deliver end to end hardware design frameworks for at least one next generation retail product (POS terminals, kiosks, vending machines, peripherals).
• Translate product requirements into system architecture and component specifications that engineering can execute without rework.
• Establish design standards that balance industrial aesthetics, cost targets, and reliability.
• Drive early engagement with manufacturing partners to optimize for scalability and cost.
• Ensure integration of advanced components such as imaging systems and embedded electronics without compromising performance or compliance.

What Great Looks Like

• Exceptional: Has led hardware design governance for complex electromechanical systems at scale and demonstrates strong experience integrating imaging/optical components while managing vendor relationships.
• Acceptable: Solid hardware product development leader with exposure to design standards and cross functional alignment.
• Non-Starter: Pure engineering execution background with no experience influencing design decisions in a product led organization.

Leadership Expectations

• Operates as a builder, creating new design frameworks and enforcing standards.
• Influences highly technical stakeholders without direct authority.
• Balances commercial priorities with technical constraints under tight timelines.
• Partners deeply with product management, engineering, procurement, and field services.