Director of Engineering and R&D

Position Summary

The Director of Engineering and R&D is responsible for leading the company’s multi-disciplinary engineering function, driving innovation from concept through validation, compliance, and life-cycle management. This role oversees all engineering personnel and programs, ensures robust project execution, and champions technical excellence.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in structural and mechanical engineering as their core foundation, paired with the leadership capability to manage and integrate cross-functional inputs from civil, electrical, and electronics engineering. This position requires a strong technical leader who balances advanced engineering prowess with proven experience across product, program, and project management methodologies.

• Contribute meaningfully as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), supporting cross-functional leaders and stakeholders in shared business outcomes.
• As a member of the SLT, actively participate in the company’s coaching culture—engaging in personal and team development, demonstrating vulnerability, having hard conversations, and committing to ongoing inner work.
• Work collaboratively cross-departmentally with sales, marketing, finance, operations, and HR.
• Actively participate in the company planning, forecasting, and budgeting process.

• Core Structural & Mechanical Leadership: Serve as the internal authority on heavy mechanical design, dynamic structural loading, and materials performance.
• Multi-Disciplinary Integration: Effectively manage and coordinate secondary engineering disciplines, ensuring seamless sub-system integration of civil foundations, electrical systems, and electronic components.
• Simulation & Virtual Validation: Direct complex, high-fidelity simulations and finite element analyses (FEA) to rigorously evaluate structural integrity and high-impact dynamic performance prior to physical testing.
• Strategic Funding & R&D Compliance: Lead the strategic identification, documentation, and execution of technology grants and R&D tax incentives, expanding the company’s involvement with IRAP, SR&ED
  , and related initiatives.
• Cutting-Edge Research: Identify, study, and publicize advances in technologies influencing the industry, such as advanced materials research and smart manufacturing.
• Evaluate and address the company’s technical debt, recommending strategies to convert legacy systems, processes, and assets into long-term technical capital.
• Discover, evaluate, and recommend external consultants, subject matter experts (SMEs), or testing partners to deepen organizational expertise.
• Ensure all product development complies with relevant regulatory, certification, and testing requirements (e.g., ASTM, CSA, UL).
• Model and uphold the company’s core values of Trust, Respect, and Integrity across all interactions.
• Lead and manage the engineering department, providing direct supervision, coaching, and career pathing for engineers, program managers, and technical specialists.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, structured experimentation, and responsible innovation.

• The Management Trifecta: Apply a blended expertise in Product, Program, and Project Management to ensure initial market alignment, clear timeline execution, and successful, on-budget product launches.
• Supervise the Program Manager to ensure the development of accurate, detailed, and cross-functionally aligned program plans.
• Codify tribal knowledge into accessible, permanent systems to ensure insights and learnings are retained and passed on.
• Continuously assess and recommend upgrades to engineering software, hardware tools, and simulation platforms to maintain a world-class practice.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM), assembly, service, and installation principles across all product lines.
• Maintain strong collaboration with Product Management, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain to ensure customer applicability and manufacturability.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely…