Director of Engineering

Venda Search; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Venda Search is seeking a Director of Engineering to lead the engineering function and shape the future product portfolio in the electrical utility market. This senior role combines people leadership, technical ownership, R&D, and close collaboration with customers across the utility sector.

You will lead a core engineering team and coordinate with operations, commercial leadership and utility customers to drive product strategy, design for manufacturability, and ongoing development from concept

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience.
• 4+ years of engineering leadership experience.
• BSEE, BSME or related engineering degree preferred.
• Strong electrical and/or electromechanical engineering background.
• Experience leading and developing engineering teams.
• Proven experience with new product development.
• Strong understanding of manufactured electrical or electromechanical products.
• Experience within the electric utility, utility equipment, power distribution or electrical manufacturing market.
• Exposure to medium-voltage equipment strongly preferred.
• Experience with utility customers and technical customer discussions.
• Knowledge of UL, ANSI, IEEE and NEMA standards.
• Strong understanding of design, testing, reliability and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, quality and commercial teams.
• Experience with pad-mounted equipment, revenue metering, power systems analysis, PCB, sensing or embedded/IoT products would be particularly valuable.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the engineering team
• Set engineering priorities, expectations and technical standards
• Own R&D and new product development from concept through commercialization
• Develop and maintain the product roadmap alongside commercial leadership
• Manage multiple engineering projects, priorities and technical workflows
• Act as the senior technical interface with utility customers, distributors and partners
• Support product design, testing, validation and reliability
• Drive design for manufacturability, cost improvement and product quality
• Work closely with manufacturing, operations and quality on new and existing products
• Support technical certification and compliance across relevant industry standards
• Improve engineering processes, documentation, drawings, BOMs and specifications
• Help build internal prototyping, testing and engineering capabilities

Skills

Engineering leadership

Electrical engineering

R&D

New product development

Team development

Stakeholder management

Standards understanding (UL/IEEE/NEMA)

Manufacturing processes

Project management

Education

BSEE / BSME or related engineering degree

Job description

We are partnering with a well-established manufacturer serving customers across the electrical utility market.

The business operates across a broad portfolio of electrical and electromechanical products and is continuing to invest in engineering, new product development and innovation as demand across the utility sector grows.

About the Role

We are looking for a Director of Engineering to lead the engineering function and play a key role in shaping the future product portfolio.

This is the senior engineering position within the business, combining people leadership, technical ownership, R&D, new product development and customer engagement.

You will lead a core engineering team while working closely with operations, commercial leadership and customers across the utility market. The position is well suited to someone who enjoys remaining close to the technical detail while also taking broader ownership of people, processes and product strategy.

The role has three core areas of ownership: the engineering team, R&D/new product development, and acting as the senior technical interface with customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the engineering team
• Set engineering priorities, expectations and technical standards
• Own R&D and new product development from concept through commercialization
• Develop and maintain the product roadmap alongside commercial leadership
• Manage multiple engineering projects, priorities and technical workflows
• Act as the senior technical interface with utility customers, distributors and partners
• Support product design, testing, validation and reliability
• Drive design for manufacturability, cost improvement and product quality
• Work closely with manufacturing, operations and quality on new and existing products
• Support technical certification and compliance across relevant industry standards
• Improve engineering processes, documentation, drawings, BOMs and specifications
• Help build internal prototyping, testing and engineering capabilities

Skills & Experience Needed

• 10+ years of engineering experience
• 4+ years of engineering leadership experience
• BSEE, BSME or related engineering degree preferred
• Strong electrical and/or electromechanical engineering background
• Experience leading and developing engineering teams
• Proven experience with new product development
• Strong understanding of manufactured electrical or electromechanical products
• Experience within the electric utility, utility equipment, power distribution or electrical manufacturing market
• Exposure to medium-voltage equipment strongly preferred
• Experience with utility customers and technical customer discussions
• Knowledge of relevant standards such as UL, ANSI, IEEE and NEMA
• Strong understanding of design, testing, reliability and manufacturing processes
• Ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, quality and commercial teams

Experience with pad-mounted equipment, revenue metering, power systems analysis, PCB, sensing or embedded/IoT products would be particularly valuable.

Benefits / Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible engineering leadership role with genuine ownership of the function.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Build and develop the engineering team
• Influence the future direction of the product portfolio
• Lead new product development and innovation
• Work directly with senior leadership
• Engage with major utility customers
• Help improve and expand internal engineering capabilities
• Join a business operating in a growing utility and grid infrastructure market