Director of Engineering

Director of New Product Development – HVAC

Location: [Insert City, State or “Hybrid/Remote”]
Department: Engineering
Reports To: Vice President of Engineering
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned Director of New Product Development (NPD) to lead the design and execution of innovative residential and light commercial HVAC solutions. This individual will own the full lifecycle of product development—from concept through commercialization—driving programs that deliver high performance, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will be both a strategic thinker and a hands-on technical leader, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers, nurturing technical and leadership growth across all levels.

• Build and sustain a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

• Identify and develop high-potential talent through challenging projects and coaching.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Sales, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery of new product initiatives.

• Serve as the primary liaison for all NPD programs, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.

• Drive process improvement efforts to enhance engineering efficiency, product quality, and speed to market.

Product Development & Innovation

• Provide technical direction and oversight for next-generation HVAC system design and validation.

• Lead programs from concept through pilot production, ensuring technical readiness and manufacturability.

• Translate customer insights and market trends into actionable product strategies.

• Guide technology roadmaps and align development priorities with long-term business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline (advanced degree preferred).

• 15+ years of HVAC product engineering and development experience.

• 5+ years of experience leading technical or engineering teams.

• Proven track record of successfully bringing complex HVAC products to market.

• Strong knowledge of residential and light commercial HVAC systems, codes, and industry standards.

• Proficiency in structured Product Development Processes (e.g., Stage-Gate).

• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Additional Information

• Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

• Travel: Approximately 5%