Director, R&D Mechanical Engineering
Ninjakitchen, Needham Heights, MA, United States
Director, R&D Mechanical Engineering
Overview SharkNinja is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of R&D Mechanical Engineering to lead and grow SharkNinja's R&D Engineering organization. This leader must excel as both a seasoned engineer and a strategic people leader, personally driving technical excellence on key initiatives while building and inspiring a high‑performing team of engineers. The Director will be accountable for "how things work" across Ninja's product portfolio, championing the development and integration of breakthrough technologies that deliver consumer‑delighting performance at scale.
As an engineer, this person brings deep, intuitive mastery of physics and engineering fundamentals, with a track record of translating complex, ambiguous problems into elegant solutions. They set the technical standard for the team equally at home hacking together a prototype in the lab or aligning stakeholders in a design review. They champion a "fail fast, learn fast" culture, ensuring their team rapidly condenses problems to core requirements and iterates with speed and rigor.
As a director, this person shapes R&D strategy across multiple concurrent programs, partnering closely with senior cross‑functional leaders to align technology development with business priorities. They build organizational capability hiring, developing, and retaining engineering talent and cultivate a culture of curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement. They represent R&D engineering at the leadership level and influence product direction from early concept through mass production.
Attributes & Skills
Proven ability to define technical strategy across a portfolio of programs, connecting first‑principles engineering thinking to broader business and consumer outcomes
Deep command of mechanical engineering and physics fundamentals heattransfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and mechanical design with the credibility to guide and elevate a team of engineers
Exceptional analytical rigor, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving technical risk before it becomes business risk
Executive‑level communication skills: ability to translate complex technical concepts for senior non‑technical stakeholders, and to represent R&D engineering with clarity and confidence
Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, manage competing priorities across multiple programs, and keep teams focused without losing sight of longer‑term goals
Strong leadership presence, able to inspire, challenge, and develop engineers at all levels, while building a team culture of intellectual honesty and high performance
Experience driving organizational growth: recruiting top talent, building team structure, and developing career paths for engineers
Qualifications
BS or MS in Engineering (Mechanical or similar discipline); advanced degree a plus
10+ years of progressive experience in product development or a related field, with significant leadership responsibility in a fast‑paced, innovation‑driven environment
Demonstrated success leading a team of engineers across multiple concurrent projects, from early‑stage technology exploration through mass production
Proven track record of building and scaling high‑performing engineering teams, including hiring, mentoring, and developing engineering talent
Hands‑on experience with mechanical and/or electrical fabrication (power tools, sheet metal, electrical wiring) and familiarity with electronics and components common in small appliances (sensors, motors, heaters, PCBAs, etc.)
Proficiency with test equipment, data analysis tools, and CAD fundamentals
Advanced proficiency in Excel or equivalent tools for organizing and analyzing test data
Due to the hands‑on nature of this role, this position is on‑site at our Needham, MA office
Salary and Other Compensation The annual salary range for this position is $127,500 – $185,000 USD. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
Benefits: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts (HSA) with company contribution, 401(k) retirement plan with matching, employee stock purchase program, life insurance, AD&D, short‑term disability insurance, long‑term disability insurance, generous paid time off, company holidays, parental leave, identity theft protection, pet insurance, pre‑paid legal insurance, backup child and eldercare days, product discounts, referral bonus program, and more.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other class protected by legislation, and local law. SharkNinja will consider reasonable accommodations consistent with legislation, and local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact SharkNinja People & Culture at accommodations@sharkninja.com
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Overview SharkNinja is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of R&D Mechanical Engineering to lead and grow SharkNinja's R&D Engineering organization. This leader must excel as both a seasoned engineer and a strategic people leader, personally driving technical excellence on key initiatives while building and inspiring a high‑performing team of engineers. The Director will be accountable for "how things work" across Ninja's product portfolio, championing the development and integration of breakthrough technologies that deliver consumer‑delighting performance at scale.
As an engineer, this person brings deep, intuitive mastery of physics and engineering fundamentals, with a track record of translating complex, ambiguous problems into elegant solutions. They set the technical standard for the team equally at home hacking together a prototype in the lab or aligning stakeholders in a design review. They champion a "fail fast, learn fast" culture, ensuring their team rapidly condenses problems to core requirements and iterates with speed and rigor.
As a director, this person shapes R&D strategy across multiple concurrent programs, partnering closely with senior cross‑functional leaders to align technology development with business priorities. They build organizational capability hiring, developing, and retaining engineering talent and cultivate a culture of curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement. They represent R&D engineering at the leadership level and influence product direction from early concept through mass production.
Attributes & Skills
Proven ability to define technical strategy across a portfolio of programs, connecting first‑principles engineering thinking to broader business and consumer outcomes
Deep command of mechanical engineering and physics fundamentals heattransfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and mechanical design with the credibility to guide and elevate a team of engineers
Exceptional analytical rigor, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving technical risk before it becomes business risk
Executive‑level communication skills: ability to translate complex technical concepts for senior non‑technical stakeholders, and to represent R&D engineering with clarity and confidence
Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, manage competing priorities across multiple programs, and keep teams focused without losing sight of longer‑term goals
Strong leadership presence, able to inspire, challenge, and develop engineers at all levels, while building a team culture of intellectual honesty and high performance
Experience driving organizational growth: recruiting top talent, building team structure, and developing career paths for engineers
Qualifications
BS or MS in Engineering (Mechanical or similar discipline); advanced degree a plus
10+ years of progressive experience in product development or a related field, with significant leadership responsibility in a fast‑paced, innovation‑driven environment
Demonstrated success leading a team of engineers across multiple concurrent projects, from early‑stage technology exploration through mass production
Proven track record of building and scaling high‑performing engineering teams, including hiring, mentoring, and developing engineering talent
Hands‑on experience with mechanical and/or electrical fabrication (power tools, sheet metal, electrical wiring) and familiarity with electronics and components common in small appliances (sensors, motors, heaters, PCBAs, etc.)
Proficiency with test equipment, data analysis tools, and CAD fundamentals
Advanced proficiency in Excel or equivalent tools for organizing and analyzing test data
Due to the hands‑on nature of this role, this position is on‑site at our Needham, MA office
Salary and Other Compensation The annual salary range for this position is $127,500 – $185,000 USD. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
Benefits: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts (HSA) with company contribution, 401(k) retirement plan with matching, employee stock purchase program, life insurance, AD&D, short‑term disability insurance, long‑term disability insurance, generous paid time off, company holidays, parental leave, identity theft protection, pet insurance, pre‑paid legal insurance, backup child and eldercare days, product discounts, referral bonus program, and more.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other class protected by legislation, and local law. SharkNinja will consider reasonable accommodations consistent with legislation, and local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact SharkNinja People & Culture at accommodations@sharkninja.com
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