Senior Director, Product Engineering

Company:
Exemplis

Location:

Cypress, CA, US, 90630

Work Designation:
Hybrid

Salary Range
: $- $

The Senior Director of Product Engineering leads the organization responsible for translating design intent into scalable, manufacturable, and profitable product platforms. This role owns end-to-end engineering delivery and is accountable for excellence across cost, quality, manufacturability, compliance, and sustainability—while accelerating development through modular architecture, automation, and AI-enabled workflows.

Based in Cypress, CA, this leader partners closely with Design, R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and Mexico operations to ensure seamless commercialization, production transfer, and scalable manufacturing readiness. This is a hybrid role requiring onsite work three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

Engineering Strategy & Delivery

• Translate product and business strategy into a clear engineering roadmap with defined priorities, milestones, and capability plans.
• Serve as the senior technical authority, leading engineering decisions, trade-offs, and escalations.
• Lead concurrent programs from concept through commercialization, ensuring delivery against cost, quality, compliance, ergonomics, and sustainability targets.
• Drive DFM/DFA/DFC/VAVE and champion modular architectures that reduce complexity and enable scalable product families.
• Oversee validation (FEA, FMEA, durability/performance testing) and ensure disciplined BOM, CAD, and ECO governance.

Digital Engineering & Innovation

• Advance adoption of AI-enabled engineering tools, including AI-assisted CAD, generative design, simulation, and Model-Based Definition (MBD).
• Optimize CAD (Solid Works preferred), PLM/PDM, and digital workflows to reduce cycle time and manual handoffs.
• Partner with R&D to translate new materials, automation, and sustainable technologies into production-ready solutions.

Cross-Functional & Manufacturing Integration

• Partner with Design and Development to ensure technical feasibility without compromising user experience.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Mexico operations to ensure production readiness, yield, and scalable ramp.
• Align with Sourcing, Quality, and Compliance on supplier readiness, regulatory standards, and risk mitigation.
• Lead structured cross-functional engineering reviews to accelerate alignment and compress timelines.

Organizational & Operational Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary engineering organization, building both technical depth and future people leaders.
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.
• Manage engineering resources, tooling investments, and capital planning aligned to business priorities.
• Establish and improve KPIs including time-to-market, engineering velocity, product cost, launch performance, and reliability.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (advanced degree preferred).
• 12+ years of progressive product engineering experience, including 6+ years leading teams.
• Proven experience delivering configurable, modular, or mass-customized products at scale.
• Advanced proficiency in mechanical design and CAD (Solid Works or comparable).
• Deep expertise in DFM, DFA, VAVE, lean engineering, and validation methodologies.
• Experience implementing or scaling digital engineering tools (PLM, MBD, simulation, AI/automation).
• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills.
• Experience working closely with manufacturing operations, including Mexico-based production.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (MS or MBA).
• Experience in contract furniture, seating, or other configurable durable goods industries.
• Familiarity with BIFMA, ISO, or similar regulatory standards.
• Experience leading sustainability initiatives (circular design, material innovation, repairability).
• PMP or formal program management certification.

Perks and Benefits:

We hope that you’re excited by the possibilities that come along with working at Exemplis! With us,
TEAM
comes first. We bring integrity, passion, and excellence to work…