Ava R.

Louis H., Director of Hardware Engineering in our Toast Taipei hub. He sits at the intersection of hardware and international expansion, keeping our systems running smoothly. His team is deeply rooted in hardware engineering, allowing him to understand the complexity of how Toast’s product is designed for high-volume restaurant and retail environments, and is ultimately, built for busy. Moreover, as Director, he brings a unique perspective where he is not only equipping the industry – but Toasters themselves, helping establish our Taipei branch as a great place to work!  

With your extensive background in the tech industry, what was it about Toast’s mission or the industries we serve that made you want to lead our Taiwan team? What keeps you excited to log on every morning?

Throughout my career, I’ve designed countless products, but Toast Go® 3 is undoubtedly one of the most formidable challenges. It is more than just hardware; it integrates sophisticated payment systems with stringent global regulations. Driven by bold ambition, we pushed the limits by pursuing goals that are often at odds:

• We had to ensure it was engineered to be a rugged, drop-resistant chassis, while keeping the factor form thin and lightweight.
• There is increasing demand for powerful electronic capabilities - while significantly extending battery life. (PS: More than 24 hour battery life)
• Ultimately, my job is to help us meet market needs, so we maintained an aggressive development timeline, while ensuring all core technologies were designed "in-house."
  
  

These are challenges that even large, established corporations might hesitate to tackle. It was inspiring to see our lean Taipei team dare to pursue such a massive vision.

This team isn't just brave enough to dream; they have the resilience to fail, pivot, and regroup with incredible energy. I recognized that my experience could provide the strategic direction needed to help this talented group reach their tipping point. Joining this fight alongside them has been, without a doubt, the smartest decision of my career.

Every Toast office has its own unique energy. How have you seen the Taiwan team uniquely interpret our values, and is there a specific tradition or team habit that makes the Taipei office feel like home?

The unique energy of the Taipei office stems from a powerful sense of 'physical connection.' While we embrace a flexible work policy and even though I never mandate office days, the majority of our team chooses to be here three or more days a week—many come in every single day.

I think this organic presence is driven by three factors:

1. Proximity, with Taipei’s ease of commute;
2. Inspiration, as our office overlooks the iconic Taipei 101, fostering a sense of pride;
3. Mission, because our engineers believe that face-to-face collaboration is the most efficient way to solve complex hardware puzzles.
   
   

This infectious energy is what fuels our most ambitious projects. Within our lab, we’ve fostered a culture of deep integration and collective problem-solving that effectively multiplies our impact. This synergy was the driving force behind Toast Go 3, ensuring we delivered on our schedule with uncompromising quality.

Hardware engineering is often the closest a developer can get to a customer’s physical touchpoint. Can you share a moment where a specific hardware innovation from your team directly solved a 'pain point' for a customer

With Toast Go 3, we faced a dual challenge: adding more powerful features while reducing the total volume to ensure ergonomic one-handed operation. At the same time, we had to meet the most rigorous drop test criteria in the industry

When I first reviewed Toast’s drop test standards, I actually laughed. However, my laughter turned to silence when marketing took me to visit actual restaurant kitchens. I saw the heat, the spills, and the incredible pace of a dinner rush. I realized that in a restaurant, 'rugged' isn't just a feature; it’s a lifeline. That moment changed everything for me. I made it our mission: Toast must become the 'Ultimate Case-Cracker Terminator' of the POS industry.

From then on, our Taipei lab was filled with the constant 'thud-thud' of drop testing. We combined endless Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) simulations with physical testing to identify every weak point, optimizing the design over and over again. The result was a 'battle-hardened' TG3. 

When I finally heard the feedback from customers praising the device's incredible durability, I smiled again—this time, with immense pride.

In the spirit of 'One Team,' how do you ensure that the Taiwan engineering team stays deeply connected to the broader Toast mission while maintaining the specialized expertise required for hardware excellence?

Fostering a 'One Team' spirit across continents requires more than just shared goals; it requires a foundation built on three strategic pillars: Transparency, Collaboration, and evidently, Trust. 

• Transparency: In the past, the Taipei team tended to be more reserved, which sometimes led to a cycle of silence when ideas were challenged. We have fundamentally changed that culture. Today, we encourage everyone to 'speak up and embrace mistakes.' By ensuring information and processes are transparent, we’ve empowered our engineers to move from being passive executors to active contributors. The bridge between the U.S. and Taiwan is built on the free exchange of diverse perspectives.
• Collaboration: Toast has optimized its global collaboration by playing to its  cross-regional strengths. Across North America, Asia, and Europe, our teams have excelled in innovation, leadership, and marketing. Here in Taiwan, we sit at the heart of the global supply chain, where our engineers possess deep expertise in design-for manufacturing (DFM), excelling at the mass production phase. This specialization creates a powerful synergy across all of Toast's regions.
• Trust: The soul of 'One Team' is breaking down barriers and silos. We leverage our time zones as an advantage, creating a seamless relay of work and information. We act as each other’s backup—sharing insights and solving problems collectively rather than in silos. While the road to perfection is long, I am certain that we are on the right path, moving forward as a unified force with unwavering mutual trust.
  
  

Toast is growing fast! What’s your best piece of advice for a candidate who wants to join the Taiwan team and make a real impact on the global hospitality industry?

My best piece of advice for any candidate is this: Stay curious, and dare to break the boundaries of your expertise. At Toast Taipei, we aren't just looking for talented engineers; we are looking for problem solvers with empathy!

Don't just focus on the printed circuit board or the code in front of you. Try to visualize how your design performs in a loud, greasy, and high-pressure kitchen environment. When you can truly feel the pain points of a restaurant owner, your engineering choices will have a real, lasting impact.

To thrive here, you need the flexibility to innovate in the "concept to product" phase alongside our global partners, while maintaining the "execution excellence" phase that Taiwan is famous for—ensuring Toast’s  products can scale flawlessly for consumers across the world. There are no 'standard answers' here. We value those who dare to challenge the status quo and have the resilience to regroup quickly after a setback.

If you have skills, if you want to continue learning, if you want to build the backbone for the hospitality industry right here in Taipei—then this is the stage you’ve been looking for.

If you’re interested in joining our team in Taiwan, be sure to check out our open positions here!