Engineering Director - NPD

About the Role

SharkNinja is seeking a Director level New Product Development (NPD) leader to own one of Ninja's core product categories from concept validation through to full commercial launch. This is a high impact leadership role focused on driving disciplined execution, technical rigor, and cross functional alignment to bring breakthrough Ninja products to market on time, on cost, and at scale.

As part of the Ninja NPD team, you will lead a group of engineers responsible for taking concepts from Advanced Development (or other sources) and turning them into fully realized, manufacturable, market ready products. This role requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, technical depth, strong people leadership, and the ability to drive complex programs through ambiguity to launch.

You will work closely with Marketing, Design, Engineering, Quality, Sourcing, and global partners across the UK, US, and China to deliver products that solve real consumer problems and hit critical business milestones.

What You Will Do

• Own end to end execution of NPD programs, from design freeze through pilot, validation, and mass production launch.
• Partner closely with Marketing teams to align product requirements, positioning, and launch timing with the broader Ninja roadmap.
• Lead and inspire a team of engineers focused on disciplined product development, DFM/DFA, and launch readiness.
• Allocate resources across multiple concurrent NPD programs and establish clear priorities to protect critical path milestones.
• Manage a diverse portfolio of programs at varying stages of development, from early engineering through to full commercialization.
• Drive regular program reviews (stage gate / PDP) and support project leaders to ensure strong execution, risk mitigation, and technical progress.
• Think critically about design and engineering trade offs, challenging decisions to balance consumer value, cost, feasibility, and manufacturability.
• Make difficult program decisions around scope, schedule, and cost, including when to hold, descope, or accelerate to protect launch dates.
• Interpret test data, DVT/PVT learnings, and quality feedback to guide go/no go decisions and corrective action plans.
• Champion program status, risks, and trade off decisions to senior leadership and executive teams, with clear, data backed recommendations.
• Manage collaboration with external technology, tooling, and manufacturing partners to ensure readiness for volume production.
• Receive concepts from Advanced Development and lead their transition into full NPD execution while protecting original design intent.
• Collaborate closely with global teams across the UK, US, and China to ensure smooth engineering transfer, tooling readiness, and manufacturing alignment.
• Partner with NPI and Operations to ensure a smooth handoff into sustained production.
• Develop and mentor team members, supporting both individual growth and long term organizational capability building.

What You Will Bring

• Extensive experience leading structured, stage gate product development programs from concept through mass production launch.
• Strong understanding of consumer needs balanced with rigorous focus on cost, quality, and manufacturability trade offs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams through complex, multi disciplinary product launches.
• Comfortable making high stakes program decisions under time and resource pressure.
• Strong leadership and people management capability, including managing teams across multiple locations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence executive leadership on program status, risk, and trade offs.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, DFMEA, and test data to drive decisions.
• High proficiency in SolidWorks and ProE or Creo CAD systems.
• Strong program and resource management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively across multiple concurrent, time critical programs.
• Experience working with China manufacturing partners on high volume consumer products, including tooling, pilot runs, and production ramp.
• Strong understanding of cross functional product development disciplines including Industrial Design, Electronics, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing.
• A collaborative, detail oriented approach, with the confidence to challenge assumptions while remaining receptive to feedback and alternative perspectives.