Research & Development Engineering Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Bivar
Bivar is a global leader in innovative LED indication and component solutions, serving customers across a wide range of industries. We are an employee-owned company committed to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality products that meet the evolving needs of our customers. Join a team where your contributions make a direct impact on our success!

About the Role

We are seeking an innovative and technically driven Research & Development Engineering Manager to help shape the future of Bivar's product portfolio. In this role, you will transform customer and market insights into new products and technologies that drive growth and strengthen our competitive advantage.

Working closely with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Manufacturing from our Irvine headquarters, you'll drive exploration, invention, core technology development, and long-range innovation by engaging with customers, prospective customers, suppliers, and industry leaders. You'll also support product development efforts from concept through prototyping and commercialization readiness. Through travel to conferences, trade shows, and market-facing events, you'll identify emerging trends, uncover unmet customer needs, evaluate new manufacturing capabilities, and conceptualize innovative flagship products that shape Bivar's future growth.

This onsite role includes travel to customers, prospective customers, industry conferences, trade shows, and other events to identify new opportunities, gather market insights, and help drive Bivar's innovation strategy.

Location: Irvine, CA (Onsite)

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Optical (Photonics), Illuminating Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in R&D, product development, or product design, preferably within electromechanical or opto-mechanical products.
• Strong experience bringing new products from concept through prototype and commercialization.
• Hands-on knowledge of 3D CAD tools, engineering analysis, and product validation.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and designing products for scalability and cost-effective production.
• A collaborative, customer-focused mindset with strong problem-solving and project management skills.

Why Join Bivar
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), giving every employee a direct stake in the company's success.

At Bivar, we know that strong teams are built from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Even if your experience doesn't align with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply. If you're excited about improving product quality, driving continuous improvement, and helping deliver exceptional solutions to customers around the world, we'd love to hear from you.