Head of Engineering

We are working with an established global manufacturer within the electronics market to recruit a Head of Engineering for its Charlotte operation.

This isn't a steady-state engineering leadership position.

The business is looking for someone who can build, transform and develop the engineering function, working closely with senior leadership and having a major voice in how the team is structured and how engineering supports the future growth of the business.

You'll initially lead a small team of engineers, with scope to grow the team further, and take responsibility across R&D, Design Engineering, NPI, Quality, Compliance and Sustaining Engineering.

The remit is genuinely global, with engineering resources across North America and Europe, alongside close collaboration with manufacturing engineering teams in Asia.

The role will include:

• Building a high-performing engineering structure with clear ownership and accountability
• Developing the engineering team, processes and execution cadence
• Leading Design Engineering, R&D, NPI, Quality and Compliance
• Developing and implementing the company's NPI roadmap and processes
• Improving speed-to-design, speed-to-quote and speed-to-market
• Leading custom and variation design for customer-specific applications
• Working closely with Sales to support OEM design wins and major customer opportunities
• Aligning engineering with Operations, Supply Chain and manufacturing teams in Asia
• Taking ownership of product quality, technical documentation and compliance
• Developing and retaining engineering talent across multiple geographies
• Contributing to wider business strategy as part of the senior leadership team

I'm particularly interested in speaking with engineering leaders who have built their careers within the connector / interconnect industry and understand both product design and the manufacturing processes behind it.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Mechanical Engineering experience
• Strong connector design and development experience
• Leadership of Design and/or Quality Engineering teams
• Experience taking products from concept through NPI and into mass production
• Strong knowledge of injection moulding and metal stamping
• SolidWorks / 3D CAD expertise
• Experience with PPAP/APQP and IATF 16949 environments
• Customer-facing experience supporting OEMs and technical design discussions
• The ability to lead and develop engineering teams across multiple locations

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who wants more than simply managing an established engineering department. You'll have the opportunity to shape the function, build the team and influence how engineering supports the next stage of the company's growth.

The role is based in Charlotte, NC. Some hybrid flexibility is possible, although the majority of the working week will be office-based.