Director, Technical Operations

Job Summary

The Director of Technical Operations is accountable for establishing the development engineering foundation, production technologies, and operational scalability required to support Outform’s global manufacturing network. This role owns the definition and continuous improvement of technical operations in connection with manufacturing processes, automation strategies, plant layouts, and new product industrial standards.

• Manufacturing Engineering Strategy & Governance - Develop and maintain the long‑term technical operations roadmap, establish engineering governance standards for new product development, and define global manufacturing standards.
• New Product Introduction (NPI) & Industrialization - Lead DFM/DFX processes, oversee prototype builds, and develop vendor capacity models for NPI.
• Automation, Technology, and Equipment Strategy - Drive selection, integration, and optimization of manufacturing technologies, lead capital investment planning, and ensure robust equipment life‑cycle management.
• Process Engineering, Governance & Quality Optimization - Engage in root‑cause analysis, improve process capability through DOE, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Operational Efficiency & Continuous Improvement - Lead Lean transformation initiatives, implement system‑wide metrics, and support optimization of labor models.
• Leadership & Collaboration - Build, mentor, and lead multidisciplinary development engineering teams, partner with cross‑functional stakeholders, and influence senior leadership.

• System‑Level Thinker:
  Designs technical operations ecosystems.
• Technical Mastery:
  Deep knowledge of process & product development engineering.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership:
  Skilled at driving alignment across global sites.
• Innovation & Technology Foresight:
  Evaluates and integrates future‑ready technologies.
• Data‑Driven Decision‑Making:
  Uses advanced analytical tools to diagnose problems.
• Organizational Development:
  Builds high‑performance development engineering teams.
• Change Leadership:
  Drives major process and system transformations.

• Education & Experience - Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering; master’s preferred. 12‑18 years of manufacturing engineering experience in multi‑site global environments, 5+ years leading engineering or industrialized teams.
• Technical Skills & Knowledge - Advanced knowledge of PFMEA, PPAP, validation protocols, GD&T, DOE, and SPC. Expertise with MES, PLM, CAD, simulation tools, and industrial automation systems. Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.

• Director

• Full‑time

Milpitas, CA $‑$