Director of Design Engineering

American Plastics, LLC; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental benefits

401k plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

American Plastics, LLC is seeking a strategic Director of Design Engineering to lead a high-performing product development team. You will drive end-to-end development from concept to commercialization, implement robust engineering processes, and align R&D with market opportunities to accelerate cycles and improve quality.

This role is based in Mooresville, NC, with remote work available for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive R&D and new product development experience in plastic injection molded solutions.
• 7+ years leading and developing engineering teams across global organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
• Deep expertise in plastic injection molding, including part design, material selection, and high-volume manufacturability.
• Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA, DFMEA, DVP&R, PPAP, and stage-gate processes.
• Experience with PLM/PDM systems, engineering change control, and drawing standards.
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Proven ability to mentor technical talent and build organizational capabilities.
• Strong business and project leadership with cross-functional alignment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Experience partnering with industrial design teams to optimize manufacturability while preserving aesthetics.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept through commercialization.
• Ensure adherence to development processes, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee design reviews, risk management, verification/validation, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team of design engineers.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and talent development.
• Drive performance management and organizational effectiveness across the function.
• Develop and continuously improve product development processes and governance frameworks.
• Establish governance that accelerates timelines and ensures consistent quality.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time, within scope and budget.
• Escalate critical risks when necessary.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

PLM/PDM systems

CREO

Job description

All Jobs > Director of Design Engineering

American Plastics is a privately owned injected molded plastics company that designs and manufactures workhorse items in the United States, utilizing green processes and superior design & engineering. American Plastics is a growing company, with production and distribution footprints in Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, North and South Carolina.

American Plastics is seeking a strategic, innovative Director of Design Engineering to lead and develop a high-performing team of product development engineers. This leader will drive product development and commercialization, align R&D strategy with market opportunities and business objectives, and establish robust engineering processes and standards that accelerate development cycles, strengthen execution, and improve engineering excellence. Leveraging deep expertise in plastic injection molding, the Director will guide the development of innovative, cost-effective product solutions that address consumer needs, optimize manufacturing performance, and drive business growth.

This position is based in Mooresville, NC, with remote work available for the right candidate. This position will report to the Vice President of Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development activities from concept through commercialization.
• Ensure adherence to product development processes, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee design reviews, risk management activities, verification and validation strategies, and product transfer to manufacturing.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team of design engineers
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and talent development.
• Drive performance management, organizational effectiveness, and leadership capability across the function.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of product development processes
• Establish Governance Frameworks that accelerate development cycles, ensure consistent execution, and ensure product quality.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Establish priorities, remove barriers to execution, and escalat critical risks when necessary.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, PMO, and Sales teams to achieve business objectives.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive R&D and new product development experience in plastic injection molded solutions for consumer-packaged goods (CPG).
• 7+ years of experience leading and developing engineering teams across geographically dispersed and global organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
• Deep expertise in plastic injection molding, including part design, material selection, Moldflow simulation, tooling considerations, and high-volume manufacturability.
• Strong knowledge of product development methodologies, including DFM/DFA, DFMEA, DVT, DVP&R, PPAP, and stage-gate processes.
• Experience with PLM/PDM systems, engineering change control, and drawing standards.
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks
• Proven ability to develop technical talent, mentor engineering teams, and build organizational capabilities.
• Strong business and project leadership skills, including portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, cross-functional collaboration, and alignment of R&D investments with business objectives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Experience partnering with industrial design teams to preserve product aesthetics, ergonomics, and consumer experience while optimizing manufacturability, quality, and cost.

Preferred Qualification

• Proficient in CREO
• Proficient in FEA and plastics simulation tools
• At least 18 years of age.
• Eligible to work in the United States of America
• Pass a Pre-Employment Drug Screen & Authorize Background Check

We offer a competitive salary, full benefit package including medical/dental, 401k, and paid vacation.