Director of Product & Process Engineering

Rubbercraft; Long Beach (CA); Presencial; USD 180.000 - 260.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Rubbercraft is seeking a seasoned Director of Product and Process Engineering & Development to lead design, process development, and engineering innovation at our Long Beach, CA facility. You will guide a team of engineers and collaborate with Business Development, Operations, Mfg Engineering, Program Management, and NPI to drive innovation and ensure smooth transitions of new products into production.

The role requires extensive leadership in rubber molding, tooling design, process

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years in aerospace manufacturing, product design, or engineering with 5+ years in leadership.
• 5+ years in aerospace rubber molding, including molding tool design and venturing into vulcanization, deflashing, and trimming processes.

Responsabilidades

• Lead development of innovative products, materials, and manufacturing processes to meet customer requirements and enable growth.
• Guide IP creation, including trade secrets and patents, for new products and processes.
• Serve as SME in product and process technology, sharing knowledge across the organization.

Conocimientos

Leadership

Program management

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Mold tooling design

Rubber molding

Process engineering

Mentoring

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Herramientas

Salesforce Edge

NPI collaboration tools

Descripción del empleo

Director of Product and Process Engineering & Development

Rubbercraft is seeking an experienced Director of Product and Process Engineering & Development to lead product design, process development, and engineering innovation at our Long Beach, CA facility. This role is responsible for developing advanced products, materials, and manufacturing processes that meet or exceed customer and industry expectations while supporting new business growth.

The Director will lead a team of engineers and collaborate closely with Business Development, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Program Management, and New Product Introduction (NPI) to drive innovation, improve manufacturability, and support the successful transition of new products into production.

About Rubbercraft

Rubbercraft is a trusted leader in engineered elastomer solutions serving the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. We design and manufacture precision-molded seals, gaskets, and custom rubber components that perform in the world’s most demanding environments. Our culture is built on innovation, collaboration, quality, and customer commitment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative products, materials, and manufacturing processes to support customer requirements, new business opportunities, and organizational growth.
• Drive the creation and development of intellectual property, including trade secrets and patents, related to new products, materials, and processes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in product and process technology, sharing technical knowledge and best practices across the organization.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing environment.
• Oversee day-to-day engineering activities, including product and tooling design, fixture development, process improvements, and structured problem-solving.
• Partner with Business Development to support new business opportunities, first-time bookings, and technical customer engagements.
• Collaborate directly with customer engineering and design teams to develop innovative solutions utilizing Rubbercraft's technical expertise and intellectual property.
• Support the development of a technology roadmap focused on strengthening Rubbercraft's competitive position through innovation and intellectual property development.
• Lead the preparation and review of Critical Design Reviews (CDRs) for advanced rubber and silicone products used in aerospace, defense, space, and energy applications.
• Mentor engineers in developing technical documentation, engineering analyses, and customer design presentations.
• Analyze engineering data and technical findings to provide sound recommendations and support data-driven decision-making.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices for product and process engineering and development.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce scrap, improve molding processes, enhance tooling performance, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to evaluate production processes, improve manufacturability, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Collaborate with NPI teams to ensure new products, processes, and tooling are production-ready and successfully transitioned from development to full-scale manufacturing.
• Lead tooling and process design initiatives, including improvements to rubber molding, vulcanization, and deflashing processes.
• Provide technical support during customer discussions, proposal development, and bid/no-bid evaluations, including leading the QQF process.
• Partner with Program Management to align engineering deliverables with project timelines, customer requirements, and business objectives.
• Promote the effective use of Salesforce Edge to track new business opportunities, product development activities, and first-time bookings.
• Ensure timely completion of technical customer meeting reports and related documentation in Edge.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment on technical requirements, project objectives, and deliverables.
• Support cross-functional initiatives that improve operational performance, customer satisfaction, and overall business results.
• Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities for direct reports.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.

Years Experience:

1. Minimum of 15 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, product design, or engineering, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
2. Minimum of 5 years of experience in aerospace rubber molding, including molding tool design and improvements to vulcanization, deflashing, and trimming processes.
3. Minimum of 5 years of experience applying advanced Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles to molding tools and rubber products.
4. Minimum of 3 years