Director of Engineering $170-$230K

Director of Engineering $170-$230K at Phase3D Director of Engineering $170-$230K at Phase3D in Elmhurst, Illinois Posted in about 3 hours ago.

Type:

full-time

Job Description:

PHASE3D Director of Engineering Full-Time | Engineering Leadership | Early-Stage Startup | US Citizenship Required About Phase3D Phase3D is an early-stage startup at the forefront of innovation in advanced manufacturing and 3D printing technology. We are building a world-class engineering team to bring our next generation of products to market. As we scale, we are seeking a Director of Engineering to drive our product development efforts - and grow alongside the company. Role Overview The Director of Engineering will serve as the senior-most technical leader in the organization, responsible for owning the full product engineering lifecycle - from early-stage concept through to regulatory-compliant, market-ready release. This is a hands-on leadership role ideally suited to someone who thrives in the ambiguity of an early-stage environment, can build and lead an engineering team of 5-15 engineers, and has a clear vision for what great hardware + software products look like. This role carries a growth trajectory toward Chief Technology Officer as Phase3D matures, making it a rare opportunity to shape both the technology and the company's future. Key Responsibilities Product Development & Delivery

• Own the full product development lifecycle from specification through to launch
• Lead cross-functional engineering execution to ship a major product or release within the first year
• Drive technical architecture decisions across both hardware and software/firmware domains
• Define and maintain product specifications, ensuring alignment with business goals CAD & Hardware Engineering
• Oversee CAD design processes, reviewing and approving engineering drawings and models
• Ensure design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles are applied throughout development
• Partner closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams on component selection and tolerances Compliance & Product Safety
• Lead efforts to achieve CE and UL product safety certifications
• Establish and maintain compliance documentation, test plans, and regulatory records
• Proactively identify compliance requirements early in the design process to avoid costly rework Supply Chain Collaboration
• Work with supply chain partners to evaluate suppliers, manage BOMs, and ensure component availability
• Provide technical input on make-vs-buy decisions and sourcing strategies
• Support procurement and vendor qualification processes Team Leadership & Engineering Culture
• Hire, mentor, and lead an engineering team of 5-15 engineers across hardware and software disciplines
• Build engineering processes, documentation standards, and development workflows from the ground up
• Foster a culture of ownership, velocity, and technical excellence
• Act as a key spokesperson for the engineering organization with founders and stakeholders Data Management, Analytics & Sensor Intelligence
• Architect and oversee systems for managing large-scale datasets generated from sensor hardware and manufacturing processes
• Drive the translation of raw sensor data into actionable product insights and commercial features
• Establish statistical frameworks including confidence intervals and uncertainty quantification for sensor technologies built from data collection
• Collaborate with product and commercial teams to identify high-value data-driven features and bring them to market
• Define data collection protocols, storage strategies, and pipeline standards to support ongoing R D and product iteration
• Ensure data integrity, repeatability, and traceability across all sensor and measurement systems What We're Looking For Required
• 8+ years of engineering experience, with at least 3 years in a senior technical leadership role
• Demonstrated experience shipping hardware products involving both mechanical (CAD) and software/firmware components
• Hands-on experience with product development and/or product safety certification processes
• Strong understanding of supply chain mechanics, including BOM management and supplier qualification
• Proven ability to lead and grow engineering teams in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments
• Experience with product specification development and requirements management Nice to Have
• Experience in utilizing big data to inform software features
• Background in additive manufacturing, 3D printing, or advanced manufacturing
• Experience at an early-stage or venture-backed startup
• Exposure to ISO 9001 or other quality management systems
• Familiarity with ERP or PLM systems What We Offer
• A foundational leadership role with a direct path toward CTO as the company scales
• Significant influence over product direction, team culture, and company strategy
• Competitive compensation package including equity vesting
• The opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up Phase3D is an equal opportunity employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.