Engineering Director

Hayward Holdings Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment, with a growing presence in the commercial pool market. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the company operates facilities in the U.S., Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China. The Director of Engineering, Gas Heaters & Heat Pumps, will lead the engineering organization at the Nashville facility, setting technical direction, executing strategy, and driving product innovation.

• Establish and execute the engineering strategy aligned with corporate growth objectives, product roadmaps, and long‑term technology planning.
• Own the technology roadmap for gas heaters and heat pumps, balancing innovation, cost competitiveness, sustainability, and customer needs.
• Develop and advance combustion system technology—modular product platform architecture, heat exchanger & burner optimization, control system advancement/innovation, operating efficiency improvements, and ignition control systems—to position Hayward as a market leader in heater performance and reliability.
• Partner with executive leadership to translate business goals into measurable engineering actions, priorities, and investment strategies.
• Lead planning and prioritization across product lines, ensuring resourcing and funding are aligned with enterprise objectives.
• Direct all NPD and Sustaining Engineering programs, ensuring disciplined execution across scope, cost, schedule, and performance.
• Enforce rigorous governance of project reviews, technical decisions, and program milestones.
• Oversee combustion performance validation, safety testing, thermal characterization, and emissions compliance for all gas‑fired heater products.
• Oversee performance validation, safety testing, thermal characterization, and regulatory compliance for all heat pump products.
• Drive continuous improvement in development cycle time, product quality, and engineering efficiency.
• Establish operating metrics for performance management and continuous improvement.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing engineering organization through capability building, succession planning, and performance management.
• Create a culture of accountability, innovation, and technical excellence.
• Build internal competency in combustion engineering, thermal sciences, and gas‑system safety with particular focus on modeling and simulation of systems.
• Identify and develop future leadership talent within the engineering organization.
• Foster a strong safety, compliance, and ethics culture.
• Serve as the primary engineering leader across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, testing, and program management functions.
• Drive collaboration to ensure smooth product transitions from design through production.
• Support manufacturing excellence through strong DFM/A practices and continuous engineering engagement.
• Partner closely with quality and regulatory teams to ensure heating products meet stringent safety, emissions, and certification requirements.
• Direct external engineering resources, development partners, and technology vendors.
• Own performance accountability for outsourced development efforts and third‑party engineering services.
• Lead make/buy and technology‑partnership decisions.
• Engage combustion system suppliers, burner technology innovators, universities, strategic consultants and regulatory bodies to advance product capabilities and maintain compliance.
• Ensure all products meet regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements for global markets.
• Monitor regulatory trends and proactively align product development strategies with evolving requirements.
• Establish risk‑management practices for product, compliance, and execution risk.
• Oversee risk mitigation related to combustion hazards, gas‑system integrity, emissions standards, and thermal safety controls.
• Drive product differentiation through innovation, platform strategy, cost engineering, and performance enhancement.
• Maintain competitive intelligence and industry insight to inform product strategy.
• Promote sustainability and energy‑efficient technology integration.
• Champion advancements in high efficiency low‑NOx combustion, high COP heat pumps, and other…