Job Description
About the Role
- The Head of POS Hardware & Repair is a strategic technical leadership role focused on ensuring the quality, reliability, and serviceability of all Point of Sale (POS) hardware devices used by the company.
- This individual acts as the primary technical liaison with POS manufacturers, driving design and component selection to meet rigorous company standards and optimize for easy, cost-effective repair in the Nigerian market.
- This role directly manages and oversees all POS device repair operations.
Key Responsibilities
POS Hardware Quality Assurance & Design Strategy:
- Manufacturer Liaison: Serve as the main technical point of contact with all POS hardware manufacturers.
- Design Adherence & Vetting: Rigorously review and audit manufacturer design specifications and component lists to ensure strict adherence to the company’s recommended designs, quality standards, and use of robust, reliable components.
- Design for Serviceability (DFS): Proactively recommend specific design updates, modifications, and material changes to manufacturers that simplify repair processes, reduce component costs, and improve the Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).
- Component Reliability: Evaluate and approve critical hardware components (e.g., batteries, screens, printers) based on reliability data, failure rates, and long-term supply stability.
- Failure Analysis: Partner with Engineering/Data teams to conduct root cause analysis (RCA) on recurring hardware failures and translate these findings into concrete, mandatory design improvements for manufacturers.
Local Market Adaptation & Relevance (Nigeria Focus):
- Market Insight: Maintain deep, continuous awareness of the operational reality, environmental conditions, and logistical challenges specific to the Nigerian market.
- Design Recommendation: Translate local environmental and usage data (e.g., power fluctuations, dust, handling) into practical design requirements (e.g., ruggedization, better component protection) for manufacturers.
- Spare Part Management: Define and validate the list of required spare parts that must be provided by the manufacturer, ensuring they are the most critical and highest-failure-rate components suitable for the local repair environment.
POS Repair Operations Oversight:
- Repair Strategy: Define the strategy and operational model for all POS device repair operations, including internal repair centers and outsourced service providers.
- Performance Management: Manage and monitor the performance of the repair function against key metrics, focusing intensely on reducing Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and improving the First-Time Fix Rate.
- Process Standardization: Develop and enforce standardized repair procedures, diagnostics, and quality control (QC) protocols to ensure consistent, high-quality repair outputs across all channels.
- Tooling & Training: Approve and oversee the technical training and certification of all repair technicians and ensure they have the necessary diagnostic equipment and tools.
- Repair Data Reporting: Establish a robust reporting structure for tracking component failure rates, repair costs, and inventory of parts used in repair to inform future design changes.
Qualifications and Experience
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related technical field.
- Experience: Minimum of 8+ years of experience in hardware engineering, quality control, technical operations, or product service management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Technical Expertise: Deep, hands-on knowledge of embedded systems, circuit board components, electronic repair methodologies, and diagnostic tools, particularly within the POS, terminal, or embedded payment device space.
- Manufacturer Management: Proven track record of successfully managing technical relationships with international hardware manufacturers, including design review and quality auditing processes.
- Operational Acumen: Experience managing complex repair/service operations, with a strong focus on KPIs like MTTR, Cost-of-Repair, and Failure Rate analysis.
- Market Knowledge (Highly Preferred): Direct experience with hardware deployment and service operations in the Nigerian or similar emerging markets, understanding the unique environmental and logistical constraints.
- Soft Skills: Exceptional negotiation, technical communication, and analytical skills.