Director of Research & Development

About the Role

The Director of Research & Development leads the development and execution of the company’s product innovation and research initiatives, supporting growth through new product development, continuous improvement, and technology advancement. This role oversees R&D programs from concept through commercialization and partners cross-functionally to ensure innovation aligns with business strategy, customer needs, manufacturability, and quality standards.

In a renewable energy and advanced manufacturing environment, the Director of R&D will lead engineering innovation efforts related to product performance, testing and validation, cost optimization, and next-generation solutions while building scalable R&D processes and team capability.

What You’ll Do

R&D Strategy & Product Innovation

• Lead execution of the company’s R&D strategy and product development roadmap.
• Identify emerging technologies, market trends, and product enhancement opportunities.
• Drive innovation initiatives focused on product performance, differentiation, and scalability.
• Support development of intellectual property, technical know-how, and innovation protection.
• Evaluate and prioritize R&D initiatives based on strategic value, feasibility, and return.

Product Development & Engineering Leadership

• Lead product research, prototyping, testing, validation, and commercialization efforts.
• Oversee new product introduction (NPI) and stage-gate development processes.
• Direct engineering teams in development of new products and enhancements to existing solutions.
• Ensure products meet performance, regulatory, reliability, and customer requirements.
• Partner with manufacturing and operations to support smooth transition from development into production.

R&D Operations Management

• Manage day-to-day operation of the R&D function, including project prioritization, budgets, resources, and timelines.
• Establish and monitor R&D KPIs, project milestones, and development metrics.
• Improve development efficiency, speed-to-market, and project execution discipline.
• Support value engineering and cost reduction initiatives through innovation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Product teams to support product strategy and development.
• Provide technical support for customer-driven product solutions and market expansion efforts.
• Collaborate with commercial and engineering teams on customer requirements and solution development.
• Support manufacturing readiness and design-for-manufacturability initiatives.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing R&D and engineering teams.
• Build organizational capability, succession depth, and technical bench strength.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support performance management and professional development within the function.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure development activities align with applicable standards, testing requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Support risk management, product reliability, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain documentation and technical controls to support product integrity and audit readiness.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Product Development, or related technical discipline required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years progressive engineering or product development experience.
• 5+ years leadership experience managing R&D, engineering, or product development teams.
• Experience leading new product development from concept through commercialization.
• Experience in manufacturing, renewable energy, electrical products, or industrial technology preferred.
• Experience supporting cross-functional product innovation in a growth-oriented environment.

Skills Required:

• Product development lifecycle and stage-gate methodology
• Testing, validation, and product reliability principles
• Strong project and portfolio management skills
• Budget and resource planning experience
• Innovation mindset balanced with execution discipline
• Strong communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Experience with ERP/PLM systems; SAP experience preferred

Competencies:

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking – Ability to align innovation initiatives with long-term business strategy.
• Visionary Leadership – Drives forward-thinking solutions and fosters a culture of innovation.
• Execution & Accountability – Translates strategy into measurable outcomes while holding teams accountable.
• Change Leadership – Leads teams effectively through growth, transformation, and evolving business needs.
• Talent Development – Builds, mentors, and develops high-performing technical teams.

Functional Competencies

• Research & Product Innovation – Demonstrated expertise leading innovation and new product development.
• Technical & Engineering Acumen – Strong understanding of engineering principles, testing, validation, and product design.
• Stage-Gate / Product Lifecycle Management – Experience managing products from concept through commercialization.
• Project & Portfolio Management – Ability to prioritize resources and manage multiple development programs.
• Quality & Regulatory Compliance – Knowledge of standards, quality systems, and risk mitigation.

Business Competencies

• Financial Acumen – Experience managing budgets, evaluating ROI, and supporting business cases for investment.
• Operational Partnership – Ability to collaborate with manufacturing and operations for scalable product deployment.
• Customer Focus – Understands market needs and translates customer requirements into innovative solutions.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset – Drives efficiency, optimization, and value engineering initiatives.

Behavioral Competencies

• Problem Solving & Innovation
• Decision Making
• Collaboration & Influence
• Results Orientation
• Adaptability & Agility
• Communication & Executive Presence

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep technical expertise paired with strong business acumen
• Proven success scaling innovation in a growth-oriented organization
• Ability to balance strategy, execution, and operational discipline
• Collaborative leadership style with strong cross-functional influence
• Passion for innovation in advanced manufacturing and renewable energy sectors

Physical Requirements/Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment.
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Comfortable working in a fast-growing, dynamic environment.
• Traveling to customer sites and events (traveling up to 25%).

Additional Information

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. The Company will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment visa, including without limitation, H-1B, O-1, E-3, TN status, or I-485 job portability or similar immigration processes.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Voltage is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.