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Director of Research and Development (Solar or BESS)
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Voltage LLC
Timberlake, NC (In Person)
Full-Time
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Job Description
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%).