Head of Hardware Product Design - San Francisco
About Plaud Inc.
Plaud is building the world's most trusted AI work companion for professionals to elevate productivity and performance through note-taking solutions, loved by over 1,500,000 users worldwide since 2023. With a mission to amplify human intelligence, Plaud is building the next-generation intelligence infrastructure and interfaces to capture, extract, and utilize what you say, hear, see, and think.
Plaud Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated, San Francisco-based company pushing the boundary of human–AI intelligence through a hardware–software combination. With ISO 27001, ISO 27701, GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and EN 18031 compliance, Plaud is committed to the highest standards of data security and privacy protection.
To learn more about Plaud, please visit https://www.plaud.ai and follow along on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Why You Should Join Us
Plaud is building the next generation intelligence infrastructure and interfaces to capture, extract, and utilize intelligence from what people say, hear, see, and think.
Plaud is a bootstrapped, skyrocketing, profitable company with a $250M revenue run rate achieved in just three years.
Define the next-gen paradigm for human-AI interaction.
Gain exposure to cutting-edge AI for Pro tools and play a direct role in our global expansion.
Work with passionate teammates who value innovation, collaboration, and customer success.
Grow your career in a culture that champions continuous learning and fast career development.
Market-competitive compensation, global exposure, and a vibrant, creativity-fueled work atmosphere.
Reimaging Hardware in the Age of AI
For the past 15 years, the smartphone has defined personal computing. The next decade will be different. AI will reshape how we interact with technology — and that means new devices, new interfaces, and new product categories. At Plaud, we are building AI-native hardware.
Not hardware with AI features — but hardware designed from the ground up for AI.
We believe future devices will be:
Ambient
Context-aware
Deeply personal
As we aim to establish a Hardware Product Design Center in San Francisco, we are looking for a leader who aspires to define the next generation of AI-native hardware.
What you will do
Define the Next Generation of AI Hardware
You will work with the founding team to define new device categories such as:
AI wearables
AI companion devices
next-generation intelligent hardware
You will drive the process from concept → design → prototype → product.
Build a World-Class Design Team
You will build and lead a rocketship team including:
Industrial Design (ID)
UX / Interaction Design
User Research
HMI
Hardware Prototyping
Our goal is not just a design team — but a product innovation lab.
Create New Hardware Experiences
You will lead the design of:
hardware form factors
interaction models
AI + hardware experiences
rapid prototype iterations
Working closely with engineering, AI, and product teams.
Skills, qualifications and experience we look for
8+ years experience in hardware product design or product management
Deep understanding of wearable devices with hands-on product design experience
Cross-functional leadership experience, either as a product design squad lead and/or as a people manager
Experience We Love
Experience designing or defining products such as:
AI glasses
smart watches
smart rings
smart earbuds / headphones
smart speakers
smartphones
Or experience working on:
XR / AR
ambient computing
AI hardware
What We Value the Most
We especially value candidates who have:
Proven experience designing or defining breakthrough products in smart hardware or AI hardware.
You should also have a strong methodological understanding of at least one of the following areas:
Product Definition
User Research
Human–Machine Interaction (HMI)
We value leaders who bring clear thinking frameworks and product philosophy, not just execution experience.
Why This Role Is Unique
This is a rare opportunity. You are not just designing a product. You are helping define:
The hardware platform for the AI era.
You will:
build a new design center in San Francisco
explore new computing paradigms with AI researchers and engineers
create products that define the next generation of intelligent devices
What we offer
Meaningful Ownership An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that gives a real stake in Plaud’s long-term success.
High-Impact Environment Work in a fast-moving, product-driven environment where your ideas directly shape the future of AI productivity.
Comprehensive Health & Retirement Benefits Top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, supported by a generous employer subsidy, plus a 401(k) retirement plan with company matching for full-time employees.
Time Off & Workplace Benefits Unlimited PTO, plus 13 paid holidays, 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all parents, a hybrid work model with a minimum of three in-office days per week, and access to high-quality office snacks, drinks, and equipment.
Cutting-Edge AI Tools for Productivity Access to best-in-class AI tools, including Cursor, GPT models, Gemini, Claude, and other frontier AI systems to maximize engineering and execution efficiency.
Best-in-Class Equipment Choice of top-spec laptops, high-performance workstation setups, and cutting-edge Plaud devices for all new hires.
Team & Culture Annual company offsites, team events, and a culture that values craftsmanship, ownership, and velocity.