Product Owner / Director of Engineering - Critical Power

Description:
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

Requirements:

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

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