Director of R&D Engineering

Fieldpiece Instruments • Orange, CA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Fieldpiece is on a mission to make the lives of HVACR professionals easier, faster, and better with tools that set new standards for performance and reliability. We’ve been delivering rugged, feature-rich tools like meters, manifolds, leak detectors, pumps and more since 1990 and lead the industry in the way we think, work, collaborate, and remain laser-focused on creating products that empower HVACR professionals – today and tomorrow. We're hiring a Director of Engineering to lead our growing team of mechanical, electrical, system and test engineers in a matrixed environment. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on R&D leader who thrives at the intersection of innovation, execution, and people leadership. While you're managing the team, you're still technically strong in mechanical, electrical, and firmware engineering to help solve challenging problems, define the technical roadmap, scale organizational capability, and work with our ODM partners to ensure quality products. Recognized as one of Southern California’s Best Places to Work (2023, 2024 & 2025), we provide a Hire-to-Retire philosophy, a hybrid work schedule, and a culture of curiosity – a place where you’ll have the support to innovate boldly, grow continuously, and make a tangible impact on an industry that powers everyday life.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or similar STEM field; Master’s or MBA preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive engineering and R&D leadership experience, including managing cross-functional and matrixed teams.
• Proven success leading new product development and managing supplier/ODM partnerships.
• Expertise in strategic planning, budgeting, and performance management.
• Experience with Lean product development or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills — a motivator who connects strategy to execution.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term engineering strategy aligned with company growth objectives and product innovation goals.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary R&D engineering team – build, coach, and inspire - in a matrixed environment.
• Build organizational capacity and technical depth to deliver a sustainable pipeline of differentiated products.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, Quality, and Operations to drive seamless New Product Development (NPD) from concept through launch.
• Drive operational excellence and innovation through Lean product development, process optimization, and accountability.
• Be a visible, empathetic leader balancing strategic vision with hands-on engagement in problem-solving and decision-making.
• Manage budgets, resources, processes, metrics and strategic priorities across simultaneous programs.
• Strengthen relationships with ODMs and strategic suppliers to expand innovation capacity and accelerate time-to-market.
• Develop and oversee the R&D budget, ensuring optimal allocation of financial and human resources across projects and teams.

Benefits

• Matching 401k up to 4% with immediate vesting.
• Excellent medical benefits including an HSA plan and monthly HSA contributions.
• Supplemental Term Life, Employee Assistance Programs (EAD), Disability, and more.
• Hire to Retire philosophy that includes personal career development plans.
• Onsite music program with lessons from guitar, piano and voice coaches.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager