Director of Vehicle Engineering

Bowlus is a luxury travel trailer manufacturer with headquarters in Oxnard, CA and a showroom in Santa Barbara, CA. Bowlus embodies the ultimate performance, technology, and luxury in the perfect adventure-ready RV. Bowlus has an iconic heritage of innovation as the original aluminum travel trailer, and Bowlus is the top choice for modern adventurers, land travelers, and camping enthusiasts.

Bowlus is seeking a Director of Vehicle Engineering to partner directly with the leadership team and take over the technical future of the world’s most advanced luxury travel trailer. You will lead a small, agile team of engineers, but you will also be the primary hands-on designer. This is a role for someone who brings the formal structure, aerospace precision, and systematic validation required for Bowlus to scale.

• A Mechanical Engineer by trade who understands that a vehicle is a single integrated system. You have likely spent time in Aerospace, Defense, or Aviation, working on airframes, fuselage structures, or light-aircraft.
• You can take a high-level concept from the leadership team and translate it into manufacturable, validated reality using rigorous engineering principles.
• You possess deep technical knowledge of monocoque construction, aerostructures, and riveted aluminum assemblies. You know how to maximize strength-to-weight ratios without sacrificing durability.
• You are faster in CAD than anyone you know. You can model complex surfacing, manage large assemblies, and produce production-ready drawings yourself.
• You don t just simulate; you also fabricate. You are comfortable in the shop, believing that engineering isn t finished until it works in the physical world.

• Personally execute the most complex design work in Solid Works, creating the master models and assemblies that drive production.
• Tackle complex challenges related to chassis dynamics, aluminum sheet metal forming, and structural integrity.
• Mentor our existing engineers, set design milestones, and ensure the team is delivering production-ready documentation on time.
• Architect the integration of modern electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems within the airframe constraints, ensuring they meet the high standards of a luxury vehicle.
• Work alongside the leadership team to transition engineering leadership. You will take the vision and intuition and codify it into repeatable engineering standards and processes.

• BS in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or Aerospace Engineering.
• 7+ years of hands-on engineering experience in a high-performance hardware environment (Aerospace, Aviation, Defense, or Motorsports).
• Deep experience with Aerostructures, Monocoque/Semimonocoque design, Sheet Metal, and/or Composites.
• Advanced proficiency in Solid Works. You must be able to demonstrate complex modeling capabilities (surfacing, large assemblies).
• Demonstrated ability to build what you design. Experience with welding, machining, or fabrication is preferred.
• Experience leading projects and technical teams.
• Flexibility to work non-standard hours when required.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.
• Valid driver’s license.

This is a rare opportunity to own the fast-paced engineering roadmap for an iconic American brand. You will see your designs go from CAD to the open road in weeks, not years.

$165 - $195K based on team fit & experience.