Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering required.
Advanced degree preferred in Controls, Mechatronics, Applied Physics, or Materials Science.
15+ years of engineering experience, including 7+ in senior leadership roles in high-precision equipment sectors.
Expertise in Aerosol Jet, inkjet printing, or micro dispensing systems, focusing on atomization and deposition control.
Demonstrated success in scaling R&D to production and managing global outsourcing of design and manufacturing.
Responsibilities
Define and execute the engineering roadmap for next-generation Aerosol Jet 3D printing systems.
Lead cross-functional teams in mechatronics, electrical, firmware, and process control engineering.
Align engineering priorities with business goals for yield, cost, and manufacturability.
Provide technical oversight in fluid dynamics, aerosol generation, and printhead design.
Direct the design and optimization of precision motion and positioning systems.
Guide architecture of control electronics and embedded firmware for real-time Aerosol Jet control.
Implement stage-gate product development and manage global engineering resources.
Benefits
Opportunity to lead innovation in advanced printing technologies.
Collaborative environment with cross-functional teams.
Mentorship and development of a world-class engineering team.
Strategic role influencing product direction and company goals.
Work on cutting-edge applications in 3D printing and precision additive manufacturing.
Full Job Description
The Senior Director of Engineering will lead the global engineering organization responsible for the design, development, and industrialization of Aerosol Jet additive manufacturing systems. This executive will drive innovation and best practices across motion control, fluidic delivery, deposition systems, electronics, and embedded controls, ensuring world-class performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
This role requires a strategic technical leader who can guide multi-disciplinary engineering teams, integrate complex subsystems, and partner with manufacturing and outsourced partners to deliver scalable, production-ready solutions for advanced printed electronics and precision additive manufacturing.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic & Technical Leadership
Define and execute the engineering roadmap for next-generation Aerosol Jet 3D printing systems and subsystems (motion platforms, deposition heads, electronics, and control architecture).
Lead cross-functional teams in mechatronics, electrical, firmware, and process control engineering.
Aligning engineering priorities with business goals for performance, yield, cost, and manufacturability.
Provide technical oversight in fluid dynamics, aerosol generation, atomization, and printhead design.
Champion engineering best practices for reliability, system integration, and design for manufacturing (DFM/DFA).
System Design & Motion Control
Direct the design and optimization of precision motion and positioning systems, including linear/rotary stages, servo drives, feedback sensors, and motion controllers.
Oversee system-level integration between mechanical motion, electronic control, and deposition subsystems to achieve micro-level repeatability and throughput goals.
Ensure implementation of advanced motion algorithms, trajectory planning, and synchronization with deposition timing for high-accuracy material placement.
Electronics & Embedded Systems
Guide architecture and development of control electronics, power systems, and embedded firmware for real-time control of Aerosol Jet processes.
Ensure robust system integration between sensors, motion controllers, PLCs, and user interfaces (HMI/software).
Oversee design validation, EMI/EMC compliance, and safety certification for global markets.
Operational & Program Management
Implement stage-gate product development, configuration control, and design verification processes.
Drive outsourced manufacturing and supplier collaboration for motion subsystems, electronics, and precision assemblies.
Establish strong partnerships with contract manufacturers, ensuring technical transfer and sustaining support.
Manage engineering budgets, schedules, and resource allocation across global sites.
People & Organizational Leadership
Build and mentor a world-class engineering team across hardware, controls, and system integration disciplines.
Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and technical excellence.
Develop engineering leaders capable of scaling with the organization's growth.
Qualifications:
Education
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering required.
Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in relevant field (e.g., Controls, Mechatronics, Applied Physics, or Materials Science) preferred.
Experience
15+ years of engineering experience with 7+ years in senior leadership roles within high-precision equipment industries (3D printing, semiconductor tools, inkjet, or industrial automation).
Understanding and expertise in Aerosol Jet, inkjet printing, or micro dispensing systems, including understanding of atomization, aerosol transport, and deposition control.
Strong background in motion control, embedded systems, and precision mechatronics.
Demonstrated success scaling engineering organizations and transitioning products from R&D to volume manufacturing.
Experience managing outsourced design and manufacturing partnerships globally.
Skills
Deep system-level understanding of 3D printing technology and motion control systems, with understanding of automation integration for scaling mass production operations in manufacturing.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on design robustness and process stability.
Effective communicator capable of influencing across technical and executive levels.
Skilled in risk management, root cause analysis, and process improvement.
Performance Metrics:
On-time, on-budget delivery of new product introductions (NPI).
Achieved performance improvements in print resolution, throughput, and reliability.
Supplier and partner quality metrics.
Team growth, retention, and cross-functional collaboration outcomes.
Align with software understanding and operational integration with hardware.
About Optomec
Optomec is a privately held supplier of additive manufacturing equipment and software. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Optomec's products are used in a variety of industries, including aerospace, defense, energy, and electronics. The company's main product lines include Aerosol Jet and LENS. Aerosol Jet is a printing technology that can be used to print electronic circuits and other functional materials onto 3D surfaces. LENS is a metal 3D printing technology that can be used to repair or add material to existing metal parts. Optomec has received funding from a variety of sources, including venture capital firms and government agencies.
