Sr. Director of Mechanical Engineering

At Cox Automotive, we're leading the charge in electrification. The Senior Director of Engineering will serve as a strategic and operational leader within our EV Battery Solutions division, driving planning, innovation, product development, and engineering excellence across the full battery lifecycle.
This Leader oversees a multi-disciplinary team to drive the design, development, and production of EV battery servicing capabilities. This leader is pivotal in shaping the future of mobility and sustainability at Cox Automotive and across our industry by aligning engineering initiatives with our mission to be a force for good in the world.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning & Innovation

• Architect and execute engineering strategies that support Cox Automotive's EV battery lifecycle vision.
• Lead solutioning for new technologies and services, ensuring scalability, sustainability, and regulatory alignment.
• Collaborate with OEMs, partners, supply chain, and product teams to identify market opportunities and technical pathways.
• Build and maintain capacity plans.
• Engage industry and partners.

Product & Process Design,

• Oversee the design of engineering workflows including equipment and tooling to support battery diagnostic, repair/remanufacturing processes.
• Ensure all designs meet performance, safety, and compliance standards.
• Champion agile development and lean manufacturing principles including standard documentation.

Production & Lifecycle Management

• Manage the transition including labor and schedules from design to production across Cox's global battery service centers.
• Optimize systems for diagnostics, repair, repurposing, and recycling of EV batteries. Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for production and field issues.
• Enable machining, electronics lab, calibration and software development.

Reporting, Insights & Action

• Proven strategic planner, ability to look around the corner, run to challenge and develop a plan.
• Proven ability to bring teams and stakeholders together to drive results.
• Develop and manage to engineering KPIs.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• Outcome driven with ability to provide actionable insights to executive leadership, aligning engineering outcomes with business goals.

Leadership & Culture

• Inspire and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Proven vision setter, people leader and performance manager.
• Proactive problem solver, runs to challenges.
• Effective communication to drive outcomes.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and professional development.
• Mentor emerging technical leaders and promote cross-functional collaboration.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 12 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 10 years' experience; a Ph.D. and 7 years' experience in a related field; or 16 years' experience in a related field.
• 7+ years' experience in a management or leadership role.
• Requires strong knowledge of applications such Microsoft Suite such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and proven success in product development, process engineering, and team leadership.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, and collaborative communication skills to work effectively with teams throughout organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in related discipline strongly desired Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or other related engineering discipline.
• Experience in EV battery systems, EV remanufacturing, diagnostics, and lifecycle management preferred as well as experience with regulatory standards such ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
• Business acumen to align engineering with operational and sustainability goals, and experience working with OEMs and navigating complex supply chain environments.
• Certification in agile, lean, and Six Sigma methodologies.

USD 175,300.00 - 292,100.00
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary of $175,300.00 - $292,100.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.