oWOW · 2 days ago
R&D Innovation Engineer
Oakland, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
$115K/yr - $130K/yr
3+ years expoWOW is on a mission to accelerate housing abundance and unlock human potential by designing and building affordable housing. The R&D Innovation Engineer will drive the evolution of prefabricated component systems, collaborating with various teams to develop scalable building systems that reduce costs and improve quality.
Building MaterialReal Estate
No H1B
Responsibilities
Expand Our Facade Catalog
Engineer and prototype new unitized cladding and envelope systems that balance aesthetics, performance, and manufacturability
Collaborate with facade fabricators and suppliers to refine system details, connections, and production sequences
Produce shop drawings and 3D fabrication models, coordinating with structural and waterproofing consultants
Build and test physical mock-ups, validate installation procedures, and document lessons learned for continuous improvement
Develop Prefabricated Interior Systems
Design prefabricated interior walls, and ceiling with coordinated MEP components
Lead mock-up testing and on-site trials to optimize speed, tolerance, and reliability
Coordinate feedback between MEP engineers, fabricator, and installers to ensure systems are field-ready and code-compliant
Negotiate with suppliers to secure bulk pricing and MSAs with manufacturing partners
Qualification
Required
3+ years of experience in facade engineering, modular construction, or prefabrication R&D
Worked with unitized curtain walls, panelized systems, or volumetric modules in a real fabrication or construction environment
Enjoy translating design intent into buildable, testable, and repeatable assemblies
Can read shop drawings, coordinate with engineers, and fabricators to build prototypes
Thrive in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment, balancing creativity with precision and schedule
Comfortable working with vendors, fabricators, and installers to resolve details, validate performance, and scale production
Curious, resourceful, and driven to improve how buildings are made
Professional or academic background in Architecture, Engineering, or related field
Proven experience in prefabrication, facade engineering, or modular construction
Knowledge of structural systems, and envelope design
Project management skills, able to take ownership and deliver measurable outcomes
Ability to communicate effectively in English in a professional setting
Preferred
Experience with design-to-fabrication workflows and shop drawings
Familiarity with MEP coordination and integration into prefabricated systems
Track record of negotiating with suppliers and securing volume pricing deals
Hands-on experience with mockups, testing, and inspections
Benefits
401K (no employer match)
Paid time off, sick leave, and holidays
Medical, dental and vision coverage
Dog-friendly office
Free lunch 4 days a week
Company
oWOW
Trying to solve the housing crisis and destroy loneliness
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Danny Haber
Co-Founder, CEO
Alon Gutman
Co-Founder
Recent News
2025-08-22
San Francisco Chronicle
2024-04-09
The Business Journals
2024-02-18
Company data provided by crunchbase