Director of Product Development & Engineering

Edelbrock Group•Olive Branch, MS

58d

About The Position

The Director of Product Development & Engineering provides strategic and technical leadership for all new product development, engineering design, and testing activities across the Edelbrock Group's portfolio of leading automotive aftermarket brands. This role ensures innovation excellence, design integrity, and cross-functional execution from concept to production. The Director will partner closely with Product Management, Operations, Sales & Marketing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure that engineering capabilities align with market needs and company growth objectives.

Requirements

Proven leadership in both product development and mechanical engineering disciplines.
Strong knowledge of product design, materials, and manufacturing processes within a vertically integrated environment.
Ability to balance innovation with practicality, driving speed-to-market without compromising quality or compliance.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage across executive, technical, and production levels.
Proficient in project management and collaboration tools (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, PLM, MS Project, Jira, or equivalent).
Deep understanding of ISO/QMS systems and new product introduction (NPI) methodologies.
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering (Master's preferred).
10+ years of progressive experience in engineering and/or product development within a manufacturing organization.
5+ years in a managerial or director-level capacity overseeing engineering or development teams.
Experience managing design through all stages: concept, prototype, validation, production release, and post-launch support.
Automotive or high-performance components background strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership for the Product Development and Engineering teams across multiple locations, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with executive leadership to align engineering priorities with corporate goals and new product initiatives.
Define and implement departmental KPIs, ensuring accountability for design quality, on-time delivery, and cost efficiency.
Partner with the Director of Product Management to translate product roadmaps into actionable engineering and testing plans.
Oversee all mechanical design, CAD modeling, prototyping, validation testing, and documentation to ensure high-quality, manufacturable, and cost-effective products.
Champion the use of modern engineering tools (CAD, FEA, CFD, CAM, PLM systems) and ensure consistent engineering standards and best practices.
Lead engineering change management processes and ensure compliance with ISO/QMS requirements.
Coordinate with the Test Group Manager to ensure engineering validation and performance testing are executed efficiently and accurately.
Drive cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to ensure smooth product launches and continuous product improvement.
Maintain up-to-date technical documentation, test reports, and engineering change records.
Manage multiple concurrent engineering projects and ensure milestones, budgets, and schedules are met.
Implement structured project management processes to drive on time and on-budget delivery.
Investigate delays and implement corrective actions while maintaining transparent communication with stakeholders.
Optimize resource allocation across projects and adjust priorities as business needs evolve.
Maintain departmental project tracking within the company's project management platform.
Build and mentor a high-performing technical team, ensuring succession planning and professional development.
Oversee recruiting, onboarding, and performance management for the Engineering and Product Development departments.
Create an environment that promotes collaboration, problem-solving, and engineering excellence.