We are in search of an enthusiastic Director of Engineering to take the lead in our expanding engineering department. This position is tailored for a collaborative leader who enjoys being hands-on in the lab and actively contributing to the design, development, and testing of products alongside their team.
As the Director of Engineering, you will oversee the day-to-day operations, project management, and a skilled team of five direct reports (including project engineers, sourcing, and lab personnel). You will work closely with our Chief Engineer, who acts as the final technical and compliance authority, allowing you to focus on departmental leadership, workflow execution, quality assurance, and hands-on engineering tasks.
Provide direct supervision, performance evaluations, and professional growth opportunities for the engineering team.
Guide and mentor a highly collaborative department.
Coordinate project schedules, priorities, and resource allocations across multiple product lines.
Assess and approve Engineering Change Notices (ECN) as an initial filter.
Supervise daily plant quality operations, including inspection of inbound parts, in-process quality control, and final product quality checks.
Manage the customer returns process and address vendor quality concerns.
Monitor quality metrics, oversee quality control personnel, and escalate systemic issues to the Chief Engineer for resolution.
Engage actively in hands-on product testing and research and development in our certified lab.
Lead test planning for gas appliances, ventilation systems, and electric heating products.
Coordinate testing schedules with third-party certification agencies (e.g., CSA, BSI, ETL).
Drive New Product Development (NPD) projects from concept to manufacturing launch.
Collaborate with sales, operations, purchasing, and quality teams on cross-functional timelines.
Support sourcing, supplier outreach, and sample tracking with our Sourcing Engineer.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Experience: Minimum 7 years of progressive engineering experience in manufacturing.
Leadership: At least 2 years of documented supervisory experience with direct reports in a technical engineering role.
Design Background: Hands-on experience in product design and development.
Testing Familiarity: Comfortable performing product testing in a lab setting.
CAD/Systems: Familiarity with CAD-based product design processes.
Location: Ability to work on-site in Charlotte, NC full-time.
Work Authorization: Authorized to work in the United States.
Experience in thermal, combustion, or HVAC manufacturing.
Knowledge of agency certification processes (UL, CSA, ETL, etc.).
Experience with Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma principles.
Demonstrated success in building and growing engineering teams.
