Director, Research and Product Development

Sanders Industries Holdings • Lake Forest, CA

2d

About The Position

The Director of Research and Product Development leads product, process, and analytical innovation to drive revenue growth and sustain Bal Seal’s technological leadership. This role is responsible for the technical development of new and existing products and materials, applied research, analytical tool development, and product testing.
The Director will build, develop, and lead a high-performing, innovative team and collaborate closely with Marketing, Business Development, Application Engineering, Sales, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to successfully execute business and growth objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required
• Minimum of 10 years of experience building, developing, and managing high-performing engineering teams in a collaborative environment
• Minimum of 5 years leading Research and/or Product Development programs preferred
• Demonstrated experience developing ROI analyses with a strong understanding of product commercialization and standardization
• Broad experience with manufacturing techniques, materials, and processes
• Experience implementing continuous improvement and Lean initiatives; developing and deploying processes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated, results-driven problem solver
• Strong in Mechanical Engineering, Product Development and polymer materials
• Strong collaborator capable of thriving in a cross-functional environment
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams in dynamic settings
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to engage at all organizational levels
• Knowledge of industry-standard testing methods and techniques
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply industry standards and best practices
• Working knowledge of intellectual property and patent processes
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) principles

Nice To Haves

• Electrical conductivity and Electromagnetic interference knowledge
• Working knowledge of simulation tools/methodologies and experience in deploying them in product design.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Research & Product Development team
• Partner with senior leadership and key stakeholders to align capabilities and projects with business objectives and growth initiatives
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate talent; establish and communicate performance expectations and metrics
• Develop and manage departmental resource plans to support new product development, technical initiatives, and business priorities
• Develop capital expenditure plans and annual departmental budgets; manage and track spending
• Assess and develop ROI metrics for new product and technology initiatives
• Collaborate with Marketing, Business Development, and Application Engineering to develop new products and materials, enhance existing offerings, and research emerging technologies
• Provide analytical and technical tools and services as required
• IP system Management: New patents, renewals, disseminating patents into products
• Lead development of new materials, maintain material specifications, and support Operations, Purchasing, and Quality on material-related matters
• Develop, track, and report Research and Product Development key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Represent the company at external technical forums, industry events, and customer meetings as needed
• Travel periodically to Bal Seal facilities, vendors, and customer sites
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Benefits

• We offer a full suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability coverage, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, basic and supplemental life insurance, employee assistance plan, retirement savings and matching, tuition reimbursement and other developmental opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees