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Senior Director, Product Engineering

Company:  Exemplis
Department:  Product Engineering
Location: 

Cypress, CA, US, 90630

Work Designation:  Hybrid

Salary Range: $190,428.00 - $295,164.00 

 

 

Position Summary:

The Senior Director of Product Engineering leads the organization responsible for translating design intent into scalable, manufacturable, and profitable product platforms. This role owns end-to-end engineering delivery and is accountable for excellence across cost, quality, manufacturability, compliance, and sustainability—while accelerating development through modular architecture, automation, and AI-enabled workflows.

Based in Cypress, CA, this leader partners closely with Design, R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and Mexico operations to ensure seamless commercialization, production transfer, and scalable manufacturing readiness. This is a hybrid role requiring onsite work three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Engineering Strategy & Delivery

  • Translate product and business strategy into a clear engineering roadmap with defined priorities, milestones, and capability plans.
  • Serve as the senior technical authority, leading engineering decisions, trade-offs, and escalations.
  • Lead concurrent programs from concept through commercialization, ensuring delivery against cost, quality, compliance, ergonomics, and sustainability targets.
  • Drive DFM/DFA/DFC/VAVE and champion modular architectures that reduce complexity and enable scalable product families.
  • Oversee validation (FEA, FMEA, durability/performance testing) and ensure disciplined BOM, CAD, and ECO governance.

Digital Engineering & Innovation

  • Advance adoption of AI-enabled engineering tools, including AI-assisted CAD, generative design, simulation, and Model-Based Definition (MBD).
  • Optimize CAD (SolidWorks preferred), PLM/PDM, and digital workflows to reduce cycle time and manual handoffs.
  • Partner with R&D to translate new materials, automation, and sustainable technologies into production-ready solutions.

Cross-Functional & Manufacturing Integration

  • Partner with Design and Development to ensure technical feasibility without compromising user experience.
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing and Mexico operations to ensure production readiness, yield, and scalable ramp.
  • Align with Sourcing, Quality, and Compliance on supplier readiness, regulatory standards, and risk mitigation.
  • Lead structured cross-functional engineering reviews to accelerate alignment and compress timelines.

Organizational & Operational Leadership

  • Lead and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary engineering organization, building both technical depth and future people leaders.
  • Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Manage engineering resources, tooling investments, and capital planning aligned to business priorities.
  • Establish and improve KPIs including time-to-market, engineering velocity, product cost, launch performance, and reliability.

Qualifications, Skills and Education:

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (advanced degree preferred).
  • 12+ years of progressive product engineering experience, including 6+ years leading teams.
  • Proven experience delivering configurable, modular, or mass-customized products at scale.
  • Advanced proficiency in mechanical design and CAD (SolidWorks or comparable).
  • Deep expertise in DFM, DFA, VAVE, lean engineering, and validation methodologies.
  • Experience implementing or scaling digital engineering tools (PLM, MBD, simulation, AI/automation).
  • Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills.
  • Experience working closely with manufacturing operations, including Mexico-based production.

Preferred

  • Advanced degree (MS or MBA).
  • Experience in contract furniture, seating, or other configurable durable goods industries.
  • Familiarity with BIFMA, ISO, or similar regulatory standards.
  • Experience leading sustainability initiatives (circular design, material innovation, repairability).
  • PMP or formal program management certification.

Perks and Benefits:

We hope that you’re excited by the possibilities that come along with working at Exemplis! With us, TEAM comes first.  We bring integrity, passion, and excellence to work each day.  Being part of our team means living our core values and thriving in an environment of constant innovation and positive change.

In addition to our unique culture, we also offer these fun perks and benefits.

  • Competitive Salary: Our compensation philosophy is to be externally competitive, internally fair, and not win or lose on compensation. Salary ranges are developed with the support of national benchmarks and industry best practices that adjusts to your cost of labor, years of relevant experience, skill set, and education.

  • Hybrid Work Schedule: We believe in supporting a healthy work–life balance and offer a flexible hybrid schedule, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and onsite collaboration on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

  • Health Insurance: We offer a variety of health insurance options (medical, dental, vision, etc.) for all of our team members. Eligible the first month following your start date.

  • 401(k): We match 100% up to 3% and then 50% of the next 2% deferred.

  • Time Off: Taking time off to recharge is a must whether it is for your personal health or vacation; paid time off starts accruing day 1!

  • Observed Holidays: 10 company observed holidays: New Years, Martin Luther King, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.

  • Employee Discounts: We offer discounts to our employee across all of our product lines.

  • Hit our Numbers Lunch: When we hit our monthly milestones, we all celebrate!

  • Tuition Scholarships: Partnership with UMASS Global for 10%-20% off tuition for you and/or your family.

 

About Us:

It all started in a small warehouse in California with just three employees, a fax machine and a bell that rang out every time a chair came down the conveyor belt. 30 years later, Exemplis continues to lead, innovate and disrupt an array of industries through its growing family of brands — including SitOnIt Seating, Timbuk2, X-Chair, Maverick, Mavix, Edloe Finch, and Albany Park.
From sustainable manufacturing to outreach programs and more, we strive to make a positive impact on everyone we serve. We make sure our people (and their communities) are at the core of our organization. To make a difference, we must be a champion of diversity, inclusion, service and social justice — above all else. 
Are you ready to be a part of something special? We have headquarters, offices and retail stores across the U.S. (plus a variety of flexible work opportunities). Learn more and apply today.
Exemplis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and our company adheres to the equal employment opportunity guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local laws. Read our full statement on our careers page.


Nearest Major Market: Orange County
Nearest Secondary Market: Los Angeles

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