Mechanical Engineering Manager

We are seeking a hands-on, high-energy Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead our mechanical design and product development team for the VEX Robotics division. In this role, you will bridge technical design expertise with functional team leadership. You will manage a team of mechanical engineers and designers developing injection-molded plastics, metal structures, gears, structural motion components, and consumer/educational robotics hardware.

The ideal candidate brings strong fundamentals in high-volume product manufacturing (DFM/DFA), 3D CAD modeling, structural analysis, and a passion for mentoring engineers while keeping complex multi-project life cycles on schedule.

VEX Robotics is a global leader in STEM education and competitive robotics solutions. We create products that inspire the innovators of tomorrow—ranging from classroom educational kits to advanced robotics hardware used in world-renowned competitions. As part of Innovation First International, our team designs, manufactures, and supports high-volume, durable, and intuitive electromechanical hardware used by millions of students, educators, and engineers worldwide.

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of mechanical engineers and CAD designers, fostering a collaborative, innovation-driven culture.
• Conduct performance reviews, establish clear individual and team goals, and provide ongoing technical and professional guidance.
• Resource balance across active product pipelines to match business priorities and delivery timelines.

We are seeking a hands-on, high-energy Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead our mechanical design and product development team for the VEX Robotics division. In this role, you will bridge technical design expertise with functional team leadership. You will manage a team of mechanical engineers and designers developing injection-molded plastics, metal structures, gears, structural motion components, and consumer/educational robotics hardware.

The ideal candidate brings strong fundamentals in high-volume product manufacturing (DFM/DFA), 3D CAD modeling, structural analysis, and a passion for mentoring engineers while keeping complex multi-project life cycles on schedule.

VEX Robotics is a global leader in STEM education and competitive robotics solutions. We create products that inspire the innovators of tomorrow—ranging from classroom educational kits to advanced robotics hardware used in world-renowned competitions. As part of Innovation First International, our team designs, manufactures, and supports high-volume, durable, and intuitive electromechanical hardware used by millions of students, educators, and engineers worldwide.

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of mechanical engineers and CAD designers, fostering a collaborative, innovation-driven culture.
• Conduct performance reviews, establish clear individual and team goals, and provide ongoing technical and professional guidance.
• Resource balance across active product pipelines to match business priorities and delivery timelines.

• Direct the mechanical engineering lifecycle from concept generation, prototyping, and detailed 3D CAD design through mass production.
• Establish and/or direct engineering best practices for Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Reliability (DFR).
• Conduct and lead formal mechanical design reviews, tolerance stack-up analyses, FEA simulations, and FMEA risk assessments.
• Oversee key mechanical domains: injection molding, die casting, sheet metal fabrication, gearing systems, drive trains, and dynamic structural components.
• Ens…