VP, Research and Development

SharkNinja•Needham, MA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

As the Vice President of Research & Development, you will lead the R&D strategy and execution for Shark’s Home Environment and Non-Robotic Floorcare categories, ensuring strong alignment to business priorities and delivery of high-quality, innovative products. You will be responsible for translating company and category strategy into a focused R&D and technology roadmap, driving execution across programs and ensuring delivery of 5-star products that meet performance, cost, and timeline expectations. You will play a key leadership role within Engineering, partnering closely with Category, Design, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment, prioritization, and successful product delivery. You will also lead and develop a high-performing global R&D organization, building strong technical capability and leadership depth within your teams.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in Engineering/R&D, with leadership responsibility for complex programs or teams
Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and delivering consumer products from concept through commercialization
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or related field
Strong ability to translate strategy into execution and drive results in a fast-paced environment
Effective communicator with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders
Strong consumer mindset with the ability to connect product decisions to user needs and business outcomes
Analytical and data-driven, with the ability to support prioritization and decision-making
Action-oriented, hands-on leader with strong problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

Experience with performance-driven systems (e.g., airflow, motors, or similar) preferred

Responsibilities

Lead the R&D strategy and execution for Home Environment and Non-Robotic Floorcare, aligned to company and category priorities
Translate strategic direction into actionable R&D roadmaps and deliverables
Drive strong execution across programs, ensuring alignment to business goals
Oversee the R&D portfolio, ensuring appropriate prioritization, resourcing, and delivery
Drive execution discipline across programs to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality and performance targets
Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on priorities, timelines, and deliverables
Lead research efforts to identify and apply emerging technologies, materials, and system capabilities
Drive innovation that enhances product performance, cost efficiency, and scalability
Support evaluation of external technologies and partnerships to strengthen capabilities
Partner with Advanced Development, Product Management, Design, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless execution from concept through commercialization
Ensure R&D priorities are aligned with product, commercial, and manufacturing requirements
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing R&D organization
Drive accountability, collaboration, and a strong execution mindset across teams
Support development of future leaders and strengthen technical capabilities within the function
Identify and manage technical and execution risks across programs
Provide clear and consistent updates to senior leadership on progress, risks, and key decisions
Support data-driven decision-making through strong analysis and insights