Director of Engineering and Prototyping

Job Title:

Director of Engineering and Prototyping

Reports to:

President Position Status:
Exempt / Full-Time GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB

The Director of Engineering and Prototyping is responsible for leading the strategic direction and execution of engineering and prototyping initiatives within the manufacturing environment. This position oversees the development of products from initial concept through prototype, testing, validation, and production readiness, ensuring that engineering solutions align with company objectives, customer needs, quality standards, and manufacturing capabilities.

The Director serves as a key link between engineering, design, product development, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure the successful transition of concepts into functional, manufacturable products. This role is responsible for managing engineering resources, project timelines, budgets, and technical standards while promoting innovation, continuous improvement, and efficient manufacturing processes.

• Lead, manage, and develop engineering and prototyping teams to deliver high-quality prototypes and engineering solutions on schedule and within budget.
• Develop and implement engineering strategies that align with company objectives and support product innovation and business growth.
• Oversee the product development lifecycle from concept and design through prototyping, testing, validation, and production readiness.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to ensure seamless transition from prototype to production.
• Oversee the design, testing, evaluation, and validation of prototypes to ensure they meet technical specifications, performance expectations, quality standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Manage engineering resources, project budgets, schedules, and priorities to optimize workflows and ensure successful project completion.
• Identify and implement new technologies, tools, processes, and methodologies to improve prototyping efficiency, product performance, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Establish, maintain, and improve engineering standards, technical documentation, processes, and best practices to support scalable manufacturing operations.
• Evaluate product designs for manufacturability, cost effectiveness, quality, reliability, and production feasibility.
• Monitor project progress, identify potential risks or delays, and implement corrective actions to maintain project schedules and objectives.
• Promote continuous improvement and the use of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation, and other applicable improvement methodologies.
• Support the development and implementation of engineering processes that improve product quality, reduce waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Ensure engineering and prototyping activities comply with company policies, safety requirements, quality standards, and applicable industry regulations.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineering personnel while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance team environment.
• Communicate project status, technical recommendations, resource requirements, and business impacts to senior leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required to support the ongoing needs of the organization.

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to analyze complex engineering, manufacturing, and production issues and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, engineering documentation, and manufacturing requirements.
• Ability to evaluate product designs, prototypes, processes, and testing results to…