Director of Research and Development (Solar or BESS)

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.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

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.

Qualifications:

· 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:

· 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%).

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.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person