Director, R&D Engineering

General Dynamics - Healdsburg, CA

Full-time - Senior

Healdsburg, CA

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Director of Research Development and Engineering at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is responsible for leading the design, development, execution, and implementation of technology research projects within the aerospace and defense sectors. This role involves overseeing engineering research activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines, and managing personnel decisions while fostering a collaborative environment to optimize product designs for manufacturability.

Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees the organization's engineering research, design, and development activities to develop new or improved products, processes, or services.
• Reviews new product functional requirements and plans, executing designs, tests, and integrating components to produce final designs, evaluating overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety.
• Oversees designs, development, execution, testing, product specifications, and process validation plans; reviews material part specifications and bills of materials.
• Collaborates with internal manufacturing partners, contract manufacturers, designers, and product specialists to optimize designs for manufacturability.
• Utilizes CAD (Computer Aided Design) or CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) systems to review new designs and detailed engineering drawings.
• Develops project plans, reviews research specifications, secures resources, monitors project progress, and provides regular reports to leadership teams.
• Ensures that all laboratory activities comply with regulatory guidelines and quality and/or performance standards.
• Manages research activities and guides subordinates in applying scientific or engineering principles to the product development process.
• Leads and directs the work of other employees and has responsibility for personnel decisions with concurrence from HR & Senior Leadership.
• Establishes and administers policies and procedures, departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and procedural change.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree and 8-10 years experience OR Equivalent Combination of Relevant Education &/or Experience
• Management skills
• Foster teamwork
• Analytical thinking
• Detail oriented
• Research
• Project management
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's Degree in Science or Engineering discipline preferred

Benefits

• Comprehensive total rewards package including healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits
• Career development and recognition programs