Chief Technology Officer (cto)
Job DescriptionJob Description
VP of Engineering
Location: Marietta, Ohio (On-site)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Role Overview
PowerFlo is seeking a hands-on, manufacturing-first Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead all aspects of engineering across our low-voltage power product portfolio serving the data center market. This is a critical executive role for a founder-led, high-growth manufacturing business that must stabilize, scale, and expand simultaneously.
The CTO owns the full engineering ecosystem—mechanical, electrical, testing, validation, certifications, and systems—while working shoulder-to-shoulder with operations to ensure products move cleanly from design to BOMs, part numbers, production, inventory, and shipment. Speed matters. Quality and customer service is non-negotiable.
This role requires a proven builder who can inherit an existing team, elevate standards, implement structure, and scale the organization to support rapid growth—without losing urgency, accountability, or customer trust.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Strategy
· Serve as a core member of the executive leadership team, partnering directly with the CEO and CCSO to drive company-wide growth strategy
· Own the engineering and technology roadmap aligned to PowerFlo’s commercial and operational objectives
· Lead stabilization of current engineering processes while simultaneously scaling for future growth
· Establish clear priorities, accountability, and execution rhythm across engineering and operations
Engineering & Product Ownership
· Lead all mechanical and electrical engineering functions supporting low-voltage power products, including PDUs, STS, switchgear, RPPs, and related systems
· Oversee new product development, product extensions, and platform evolution
· Balance speed-to-market with rigorous design, testing, and quality standards
· Ensure products are manufacturable, scalable, serviceable, and aligned with customer requirements
Manufacturing Integration & Systems
· Own the integration of engineering with manufacturing operations
· Drive excellence in:
o BOM structure and governance
o Part number creation and discipline
o ECO / ECN processes
o Engineering-to-production handoff
o Inventory strategy and manufacturability
· Actively float between the production floor and systems-level work to ensure execution meets intent
· Build or improve engineering systems that support scale, repeatability, and accountability
Team Leadership & Organizational Design
· Lead a 20+ person engineering organization today, and set plans for scaling in the future
· Inherit existing leaders while recruiting and developing additional management and technical talent
· Establish a high-bar, low-ego culture with clear expectations and urgency
· Develop future leaders within engineering, testing, and validation
Testing, Quality, & Compliance
· Own all testing, validation, certifications, and accreditations
· Build, expand, and maintain internal test lab capabilities
· Lead compliance with UL, IEC, and other applicable standards
· Establish strong failure analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement systems
Customer & Market Engagement
· Act as an internal-first leader with selective external engagement
· Participate in customer design reviews, technical escalations, and factory witness tests as needed
· Ensure engineering decisions are grounded in customer experience, reliability, and quality
· Maintain deep passion for the data center industry and evolving customer needs
Success in This Role Looks Like
First 90 Days - Establish credibility with engineering, operations, and executive leadership - Assess and stabilize existing engineering and production systems - Identify immediate gaps in process, accountability, and structure
First Year – Stabilize and scale engineering organization with clear ownership and leadership layers - Improved speed, predictability, and quality of product delivery - Robust engineering-to-manufacturing workflows in place
Required Experience & Background
· Senior engineering or technology executive experience within manufacturing
· Direct experience in the data center power infrastructure industry, including products such as:
o Power Distribution Units (PDUs)
o Static Transfer Switches (STS)
o Switchgear
o Remote Power Panels (RPPs)
· Proven success launching and scaling new product lines
· Experience leading 30+ person engineering organizations, including test and validation functions
· Deep understanding of manufacturing flow from design through BOMs, part numbers, production, and inventory
· Track record of operating in high-growth, founder-led manufacturing environments
Leadership Attributes
· Builder mindset with strong execution bias
· High standards, low ego, and personal accountability
· Comfortable operating at both strategic and tactical levels
· Sense of urgency without compromising quality or safety
· Customer-obsessed with a long-term view of reliability and trust
Location Requirement
This role is on-site in Marietta, Ohio and requires regular presence on the production floor. Remote or hybrid arrangements are not available for this position.
PowerFlo offers a rare opportunity to shape the engineering foundation of a rapidly scaling data center manufacturing business. This role is designed for a leader who thrives in complexity, builds systems that last, and takes pride in delivering high-quality products at speed.