Product Owner / Director of Engineering – Critical Power in Raleigh, North Carolina at SMT INC

POSITION SUMMARY

Rise Power Systems, a division of SMT, Inc., is seeking a Product Owner – Director of Engineering- Critical Power. This role combines product ownership, mechanical engineering leadership, and organizational development to lead the design and execution of mission-critical power distribution equipment, including Switchboards, MCCs, ATS, and related low-voltage electrical systems. The position bridges customer needs, product strategy, engineering execution, and manufacturing to deliver scalable, compliant, and manufacturable product platforms while building and leading the mechanical engineering function over time.

Key Responsibilities

Product Ownership & Strategy

· Define product vision, roadmap, and lifecycle strategy for low-voltage power distribution equipment

· Own and prioritize product development initiatives in partnership with Product Management, Sales, and Operations

· Translate customer and market requirements into detailed technical product specifications

· Drive platform standardization and modular product architecture to improve scalability and reduce engineering lead time

· Support customer engagement, technical reviews, and go-to-market activities including documentation, training, and product positioning

Mechanical Engineering Leadership

· Lead mechanical engineering activities for enclosures, busbar systems, cable management, structural assemblies, and thermal solutions

· Establish mechanical engineering standards, design practices, and development processes

· Develop and review CAD models, drawings, and BOMs for production

· Ensure designs meet requirements for thermal performance, structural integrity, manufacturability, and serviceability

· Drive design-for-manufacturing (DFM), cost optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives

· Build and lead the mechanical engineering team as the organization grows

Cross-Functional Execution

· Collaborate closely with electrical engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, quality, and field service teams

· Lead design reviews and coordinate execution across disciplines

· Oversee prototyping, testing, validation, and product release activities

· Support project execution for custom and standard product configurations

· Manage engineering changes and continuous product improvement efforts

Compliance & Quality

· Ensure products meet applicable UL, NEC, IEC, and ANSI standards

· Support certification activities, testing, and regulatory submissions

· Monitor field performance and lead root cause analysis and corrective actions

· Establish robust documentation and quality processes to support scalable growth

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; advanced degree preferred

· 8+ years of experience in power distribution equipment, switchgear, or related low-voltage electrical products

· Experience leading mechanical engineering development for mission-critical electrical equipment

· Strong understanding of PDUs, RPPs, switchboards, busbar systems, and thermal/mechanical design considerations

· Experience with product ownership, platform development, or product strategy responsibilities

· Proficiency with SolidWorks, PDM/PLM systems, and engineering documentation processes

· Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive execution

Preferred Skills

· Experience building or leading engineering teams

· Knowledge of modular and scalable product architectures

· Experience with busbar bracing, fault-current considerations, and thermal management

· Familiarity with UL certification processes and seismic requirements (IEEE 693)

· Experience supporting data center or other mission-critical infrastructure markets

· Strong communication and customer-facing technical leadership skills