Engineering Director

IDEXX; Westbrook (ME); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

IDEXX is seeking an Engineering Director to lead the design, development, and commercialization of high-volume diagnostic consumables and medical device components powering IDEXX’s point-of-care platforms. You will guide a multidisciplinary team to deliver scalable, manufacturable solutions for global markets.

You will shape long-term technical strategy, collaborate with assay scientists and manufacturing, and drive innovation, accountability, and engineering excellence across the organization.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in diagnostic consumables, medical devices, or related product development.
• Demonstrated expertise in consumable or device design, including materials, microfluidics, plastics, or precision components.
• Strong command of design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-cost (DFC) for high-volume production.
• Familiarity with analytical modeling and simulation tools (FEA, CFD, thermal analysis).
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams.
• Experience collaborating with assay scientists, instrumentation teams, manufacturing partners, and external suppliers.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills with ability to influence across a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership by setting vision, priorities, and long-range roadmaps.
• Build a high-performing culture emphasizing innovation, technical rigor, and continuous improvement.
• Set the long-term organizational strategy for a ~15–20 person engineering team.
• Lead in a matrixed environment with alignment across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and external collaborators.
• Lead creation of advanced prototypes, models, and test articles to accelerate development.
• Provide design guidance, review, and support for projects across the organization.
• Partner with assay and instrument teams to translate requirements into scalable product architectures.
• Foster relationships with manufacturing operations, supply chain, and external partners for technology transfer.

Skills

Leadership

DFM

DFC

Analytical modeling

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentorship

Education

MS in Mechanical Engineering

PhD in related field

Tools

SolidWorks CAD

FEA

CFD

Thermal analysis

Job description

This Engineering Director will lead the design, development, and commercialization of high‑volume, single‑use diagnostic consumables and medical device components that power IDEXX’s point‑of‑care veterinary diagnostic platforms. This leader will guide a multidisciplinary engineering organization—comprising mechanical engineers, consumables engineers, technicians, and model makers—to deliver scalable, manufacturable, and user‑centric solutions that enable high‑quality diagnostic results across global markets.

In this role, you will partner closely with assay scientists, systems engineers, instrumentation teams, manufacturing operations, suppliers, and external innovation partners to translate scientific requirements into robust product architectures. You will help shape the long‑term technical strategy for consumables and device development, strengthen organizational capabilities, and foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and engineering excellence.

Why This Role Matters The Engineering Director for medical devices and consumables leads across a full portfolio of diagnostic instruments and consumables supporting IDEXX's Companion Animal Group. This role carries end-to-end ownership from concept through launch, working closely with R&D, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing to bring point-of-care diagnostics to market. In this role, engineering leadership translates directly into diagnostic results that help veterinarians catch disease earlier and give pets longer, healthier lives.

This role is fully on-site at our global headquarters in Westbrook, Maine.

In This Role, You Will

• Provide strategic and technical leadership by setting vision, priorities, and long‑range technical roadmaps.
• Build and develop a high‑performing culture that emphasizes innovation, technical rigor, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Set the long‑term organizational strategy for a ~15–20 person engineering team, building scalable structures, leadership depth, and technical capability to support portfolio growth, increased complexity, and future business needs
• Lead through both direct line management and a matrixed cross‑functional environment, ensuring alignment across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and external collaborators.
• Lead the creation of advanced prototypes, models, and test articles to accelerate scientific and engineering development of consumables, medical devices and instruments.
• Provide design guidance, review, and support for projects across the organization
• Partner with assay and instrument teams to translate biological and system-level requirements into scalable product architectures.
• Foster strong relationships with manufacturing operations, supply chain, and external partners to ensure seamless technology transfer and lifecycle management.

What You Need To Succeed

• MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in diagnostic consumables, medical devices, or related product development.
• Demonstrated expertise in consumable or device design, including materials, microfluidics, plastics, or precision components.
• Strong command of design-for-manufacturing (DFM), design-for-cost (DFC), and high-volume production processes.
• Familiarity with analytical modeling and simulation tools (e.g., FEA, CFD, thermal analysis).
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams.
• Experience collaborating with assay scientists, instrumentation teams, manufacturing partners, and external suppliers.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, align, and drive decisions across a complex, matrixed organization

Preferred Skills

• Demonstrated experience with microfluidic systems
• Prior development of high-volume assay consumables or diagnostic products
• SolidWorks CAD experience is a plus

What You Can Expect From Us

• Salary range starting at $190,000 based on experience
• Opportunity for annual cash bonus
• Health / Dental / Vision Benefits Day-One
• 5% matching 401k
• Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more

If you’re looking for a role that’ll challenge you, offer a variety of work and learning, while helping an amazing industry, we’d love to hear from you!

Why IDEXX We’re proud of the work we do, because our work matters. An innovation leader in every industry we serve, our team members help pet owners worldwide keep their companion animals healthy and happy, ensure safe drinking water for billions, and help farmers protect livestock and poultry from disease.

We have customers in over 175 countries and a collaborative global workforce. Our culture is one that embraces challenges and encourages learning and discovery. At IDEXX, you’ll be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement.

Knowing our work has a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of pets and people is what motivates us every day. If meaningful work and a sense of purpose are at the top of your list, you’ll find it here.

Let’s pursue what matters together.

About the job location: If you’re thinking about relocating for this role, here are a few things to know about living in Maine (often called “Vacationland”). The Westbrook, ME area provides great access to active downtown areas and the outdoors, with the coast and numerous mountains and hiking trails nearby. You’ll also find a number of large companies like ours in the area, creating a vibrant work culture.

You can learn more on the Portland tourism website: https://www.visitportland.com/visit/resources/moving-to-maine/

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.

While we appreciate our staffing partners, we are unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.