Director of Engineering

Location: Johnson City, TN (On-Site / Hybrid)

Whisper Carts and LPI, Inc. are seeking a Director of Engineering to lead all product development, engineering operations, and technical systems across two manufacturing businesses. This role has enterprise-level responsibility for engineering execution across electric vehicles, utility platforms, accessories, and consumer molded products including hot tubs and swim spas.

This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role requiring deep mechanical engineering expertise, strong manufacturing intuition, and disciplined, ISO‑driven engineering execution.

• Electric golf carts and low‑speed vehicles (LSVs)
• Utility vehicles and UTV‑style platforms
• Frames, chassis, suspension, steering, braking, and driveline systems
• Electric powertrains (batteries, motors, controllers, wiring harnesses)
• Interiors, dashboards, seating, and vehicle accessories

• Hot tubs and swim spas
• Freeform molded spa shells and structural support systems
• Plumbing, jetting, pumps, heaters, filtration, and insulation
• Electrical controls, wiring, and safety systems
• Cabinetry and cosmetic components

• Own the full engineering lifecycle from concept and freeform design through production release, sustaining engineering, and continuous improvement
• Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with product roadmaps, manufacturing capabilities, cost targets, and regulatory requirements
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and quality engineering
• Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Cost (DFC) across all product lines
• Partner closely with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to support NPI, tooling development, and production readiness

• Establish and govern the use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to support design decisions and risk reduction
• Oversee structural, fatigue, and deflection analysis for:
• Frames and chassis
• Suspension and load‑bearing components
• Molded structures and hybrid assemblies
• Ensure FEA is:
• Appropriately correlated with physical testing and validation
• Used to inform design margins, material selection, and cost optimization
• Integrate analysis results into formal design reviews and design‑freeze decisions

• Solid Works for parametric part and assembly design, drawings, configurations, and basic analysis
• Rhino for freeform surfacing and consumer‑facing geometry

• Own and govern Solid Works PDM / PLM as the system of record
• Define and enforce part numbering, BOM structures, revision control, and ECR/ECO/ECN workflows
• Ensure full traceability from CAD models to released production data
• Align PDM/PLM workflows with ISO design and document control requirements
• Build and manage engineering schedules and resource plans using Microsoft Project and/or Primavera (P6)
• Provide executive visibility into milestones, critical path, capacity, and delivery risk

• Ensure accurate engineering data flow into Acumatica and Syte Line
• Govern item masters, BOMs, routings, revision effectivity, and ECO cut‑in timing

• Lead engineering participation in ISO 9001–certified quality systems
• Ensure design controls, documentation, and change management meet audit requirements
• Support CAPA, validation testing, durability testing, and root‑cause analysis
• Drive measurable improvements in quality, warranty performance, and manufacturing yield