Plastics Design Engineering Director — Remote

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

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.