Head of Engineering - Connectors - North Carolina

Head of Engineering – Connectors – North Carolina

Position Type: Full Time

Location: United States

Up to $200,000

Sector: OEM

Working Model: Office Based

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced engineering leader to shape the future of a growing global manufacturer within the electronic interconnect industry. Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will lead the engineering function across multiple international business units, driving technical excellence, innovation, product development and operational performance.

As Head of Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in defining engineering strategy while building a high-performing, customer-focused organization that delivers world‑class interconnect solutions. Working closely with Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and executive leadership, you will ensure new products are successfully brought to market, engineering processes are continuously improved, and quality and compliance remain at the forefront of everything the business delivers.

This role is ideally suited to a commercially minded engineering leader who combines strong technical expertise with proven leadership experience, thrives in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, and is passionate about developing people, driving innovation, and building engineering functions that support long‑term global growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the engineering function across multiple global business units, ensuring alignment with the company’s long‑term vision and growth objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing international engineering team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure seamless product development, successful production launches, and efficient transfer into manufacture.
• Define and execute the product strategy, managing the full product lifecycle from concept through to end‑of‑life while maintaining a competitive and customer‑focused portfolio.
• Oversee Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), Product Change Notices (PCNs), product validation, and technical documentation to ensure accuracy, quality, and minimal customer disruption.
• Establish and enhance a responsive design engineering capability, delivering innovative standard and customized solutions that improve speed to design, quotation, and market.
• Champion engineering innovation through new product development, simulation, design for manufacture, reverse engineering, and continuous product enhancement.
• Review and approve engineering documentation, technical drawings, design revisions and first article inspections, ensuring designs are robust, manufacturable and commercially viable.
• Own engineering quality, product compliance and regulatory standards across both internally manufactured and externally sourced products, ensuring compliance with ISO, IATF 16949, REACH, RoHS and other applicable standards.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of engineering and quality issues, implementing effective corrective and preventive actions that drive long‑term improvements.
• Drive operational excellence by improving engineering processes, project delivery, resource utilisation and overall engineering performance using best practice methodologies.
• Develop and embed a structured New Product Introduction (NPI) process that delivers successful product launches on time, within budget, and to customer expectations.
• Provide technical leadership throughout the customer journey, supporting key accounts, solving complex engineering challenges, and contributing to the successful acquisition of new business.
• Build strong cross‑functional relationships with Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to accelerate decision‑making and improve business performance.
• Recruit, coach and retain exceptional engineering talent, creating clear development pathways, succession plans and a culture of continuous learning.
• Act as a key member of the senior leadership team, influencing business strategy and ensuring engineering capability continues to support innovation, operational excellence and sustainable global growth.

Requirements

• Experience of manufacturing processes including injection moulding, metal stamping and Design for Manufacture (DFM).
• A proven track record of successfully delivering cross‑functional engineering projects across multiple sites or international teams.
• Advanced proficiency with SolidWorks and other CAD software, alongside strong engineering drawing creation and interpretation skills.
• Excellent understanding of engineering specifications, product testing, validation and technical documentation.
• Confident using Microsoft Office and other engineering software to support project delivery and reporting.
• A strategic and commercially minded leader who can balance technical excellence with business objectives.
• An exceptional communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong leadership, coaching and people development skills, with a passion for building high‑performing teams.
• Highly organised with excellent planning, project management and prioritisation skills.
• A proactive problem‑solver with strong analytical thinking and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Customer‑focused, quality‑driven and committed to delivering innovative engineering solutions that support long‑term business growth.