Chief Engineer

Austin, Texas | On-Site | Full-Time | Direct Hire

Ashton North is partnering with a growing, innovation-driven manufacturing company in Austin, Texas, to identify an experienced Chief Engineer who is passionate about new product development and hands‑on engineering.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys creating new products, solving complex engineering challenges, and seeing their designs become reality.

Approximately 80% of this position is focused on New Product Development (NPD), taking products from initial concept through design, prototyping, testing, validation, and production release.

We're looking for a mechanically grounded engineering leader with significant electrical and electromechanical product development experience. This individual will lead technical development while remaining personally involved in engineering design and problem‑solving.

This is not a traditional engineering management position. It's a hands‑on leadership opportunity within a smaller manufacturing environment where your technical decisions and contributions will directly influence the company’s next generation of products.

• Lead new product development from concept through design, prototyping, validation, and production release.

• Own product architecture and technical integration across mechanical, electrical, and embedded control systems.

• Work hands‑on with 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, mechanical assemblies, BOMs, and engineering documentation.

• Develop electromechanical products involving motors, electronic controls, aluminum components, and related technologies.

• Identify and resolve design challenges involving tolerances, materials, performance, reliability, and cost.

• Establish and execute product testing, validation, and engineering change processes.

• Collaborate with electrical engineers, software developers, manufacturing teams, and external suppliers.

• Ensure designs are manufacturable, scalable, and ready for production.

• Provide technical direction, mentor engineers, and take ownership of engineering outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

• 10+ years of hands‑on engineering experience, with a strong emphasis on new product development.

• Strong mechanical design background combined with significant electrical and electromechanical product development experience.

• Demonstrated experience developing physical products that integrate mechanical components, electronics, motors, and control systems.

• Proficiency with Solid Works or comparable 3D CAD software, including detailed design and drawing review.

• Experience owning product architecture, prototypes, validation, and production release.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA, and product reliability.

• Experience managing BOMs, engineering changes (ECR/ECO), design revisions, and technical documentation.

• Experience working in small to midsized manufacturing companies or lean engineering organizations.

• Ability to lead technical decisions while remaining actively involved in engineering design and troubleshooting.

We’re looking for someone who genuinely enjoys engineering.

You may be reviewing a new product concept in the morning, working through a CAD model in the afternoon, and troubleshooting an electromechanical prototype with your team the next day.

You understand how mechanical, electrical, and control systems work together. You’re comfortable making technical decisions, challenging designs, working directly with suppliers, and taking responsibility for the finished product.

You have the leadership experience to guide an engineering team, but you haven’t lost your passion for designing and developing products yourself.

Most importantly, you’ve worked in environments where engineers wear multiple hats, resources aren’t unlimited, and getting things done requires creativity, collaboration, and personal ownership.