Mechanical Design & Sourcing Head

Role Overview

• Job Title: Head of Mechanical Design & Sourcing (or Director/Lead)
• Department: Engineering, R&D, and Supply Chain / Procurement
• Reports To: Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), or VP of Product Development
• Key Focus: End-to-end mechanical architecture, DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacturing/Assembly), vendor onboarding, and cost optimization. [1, 2, 3]

Core Responsibilities

Mechanical Design & Engineering Leadership

• Lead the conceptualization, 3D CAD modeling, and 2D detailing of mechanical components, enclosures, and assemblies.
• Oversee structural, thermal, or FEA (Finite Element Analysis) simulations and validation testing.
• Drive DFM (Design for Manufacturing) and DFA (Design for Assembly) reviews to ensure parts can be produced reliably at scale.
• Manage engineering change notices (ECN), revision control, and compliance with industry and regulatory standards. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Formulate and execute mechanical sourcing strategies for parts such as sheet metal, plastic injection molding, CNC machining, and extrusions.
• Identify, audit, and onboard domestic and international component manufacturers and tier-1/tier-2 suppliers.
• Negotiate long-term contracts, unit pricing, tooling costs, payment terms, and lead times.
• Implement cost-optimization initiatives via alternate sourcing, volume consolidation, and value engineering. [1, 2]

Cross-Functional & Supplier Quality Management

• Partner closely with R&D, firmware/electronics teams, and production floors to ensure smooth new product introduction (NPI).
• Establish supplier scorecards and monitor KPIs regarding quality (PPM), on-time delivery (OTD), and cost compliance.
• Act as the escalation point for critical supplier quality or supply chain disruptions. [1, 2]

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience: 8–15+ years of combined experience in mechanical design/R&D and hardware/mechanical sourcing or supply chain operations.
• Technical Tools: Proficiency in CAD/PLM software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, AutoCAD, UGNX, Teamcenter) and GD&T.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong experience in supplier negotiation, contract law, bill of materials (BOM) cost analysis, and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle).