Associate Director, Engineering
helenoftroy

OurBeauty & Wellnessdivision empowers consumers with trusted products that support self-care, from salon-quality styling tools to wellness devices like humidifiers and air purifiers. Our innovative products and solutions promote healthy living, elevating the lives of consumers every day. This business unit includes Braun, PUR , Honeywell , Vicks , Hot Tools , Drybar , Curlsmith , and Revlon brands, and this role may support one or more of these brands.

Look around your home, and you'll find us everywhere,in your kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. We are already making your everyday lives better. We are powered by knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and forward-thinking people committed to developing a culture of inclusion. Whether you are just starting your career or in need of a challenge, we recognize, develop, and empower talent!

Position:Associate Director, Engineering

Department:Engineering - Beauty Tools

Work Location:Marlborough, MA, Hybrid (work 3 days onsite)

Hybrid Schedule:At Helen of Troy, we embrace a flexible hybrid work model designed to support collaboration and productivity. For roles eligible for hybrid work, our standard schedule includes in-office collaboration from Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Any updates to this model will be communicated in advance. Please note that hybrid eligibility and schedules may vary based on business needs and manager expectations.

What you will be doing:

The Associate Director, Engineering is a senior technical leadership role responsible for managing and developing a team of Project Engineers while ensuring consistent, high-quality engineering execution across product development programs. This role serves as a key liaison between Engineering, Quality, Program Management, Innovation, and Advanced Technology teams to enable delivery of product roadmaps.

The Associate Director is accountable for engineering processes, resource planning aligned to product roadmaps, and providing technical leadership and design guidance to Project Engineers throughout the product lifecycle.

While not directly managing programs, this role ensures engineering readiness, capability, and execution excellence in support of business objectives.

People & Resource Management

• Directly manage, coach, and develop a team of Project Engineers, including performance management, goal setting, and career development.
  
• Assign and balance engineering resources across projects based on product roadmaps, priorities, and capability needs.
  
• Build and maintain strong engineering bench strength through talent development, mentoring, and succession planning.
  
• Foster a culture of technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the engineering team.
  

Engineering Leadership & Technical Oversight

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to Project Engineers on product design, materials, manufacturability, risk management, and validation strategies.
  
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet requirements for quality, safety, cost, schedule, and regulatory compliance.
  
• Review and guide key engineering decisions, design reviews, and technical trade-offs throughout the development lifecycle.
  
• Support troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and resolution of complex technical issues.
  

Process Ownership & Continuous Improvement

• Own and continuously improve engineering processes, standards, tools, and best practices.
  
• Ensure consistent application of engineering methodologies across programs.
  
• Drive standardization and efficiency while maintaining flexibility to support innovation and differentiated product needs.
  
• Partner with Quality, Regulatory and Safety teams to ensure engineering processes support compliance requirements.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the engineering liaison to: Program Management, Quality, Innovation leadership and Advanced Technology teams
  
• Collaborate with Program Managers to align engineering execution with program timelines, risks, and milestones (without direct program ownership).
  
• Support early-stage innovation and advanced development activities by providing engineering input, feasibility assessments, and transition support into development.
  
• Manage, train, mentor and coach direct reports and coordinate activities of department. Provide planning, scheduling, direction, and coordination of projects.
  
• Ensure all projects, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with established policies and objectives.
  

Skills needed to be successful in this role:

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, motivate, and align cross‑functional and global teams
  
• Proactive, self‑driven mindset with a focus on action, continuous improvement, and anticipating issues early
  
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, delivering clear, concise, and executive‑ready updates
  
• High adaptability and flexibility, able to manage shifting priorities and multiple concurrent projects
  
• Strong collaboration and relationship‑building skills, establishing trust quickly with internal teams and global vendors
  
• Strategic problem‑solving and sound decision‑making, especially under pressure or in ambiguous situations
  
• Ability to foster a culture of accountability, technical rigor, and continuous improvement within the engineering team
  
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, ensuring clarity and alignment across engineering workstreams
  
• High level of independence, operating effectively with minimal direction while keeping stakeholders aligned
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering
  
• 5+ years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience, including managing, coaching, and developing engineering teams
  
• Hands‑on experience with small appliance development, specifically Beauty Tools such as hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons, hot air brushes, or similar electrical hair‑styling appliances, with strong mechanical and electrical understanding of these systems
  
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering execution across multiple programs, including resource planning and cross‑functional alignment
  
• Proven track record of delivering consumer electrical products on time and within budget in fast‑paced environments
  
• Strong background in small appliance design and manufacturing, including plastics, molding, heating elements, motors, and electrical subsystems used in Beauty Tools
  
• Working knowledge of UL and other relevant safety/regulatory requirements for consumer electrical hair appliances
  
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with global vendors, manage submittals, track commitments, and oversee product quality and schedule adherence
  
• Strong troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis skills across mechanical, electrical, and system‑level issues
  
• Proficiency with CAD tools (Creo preferred)
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project
  
• Ability to travel domestically (Boston, Edgewater, NJ) and internationally (Asia/SE Asia) as required
  
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis
  

In Massachusetts, the standard base pay range for this role is $158,000 - $176,000 annually. This base pay range is specific to Massachusetts and may notbe applicableto other locations. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to location, experience, skill level, and performance. The range listed is just onecomponentof the total compensation package for employees.

Benefits:Salary + Bonus,Healthcare, Dental, Vision, Paid Holidays, Paid Parental Leave, 401(k) with company match, Basic Life Insurance, Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Charitable (volunteer) Leave, and Educational Assistance.

Wondering if you should apply? Helen of Troy welcomes people as diverse as our brands! Have the confidence to come as who you are because your point of view, skills, and experience will make us stronger. If you're eager to share new ideas and try new things, we want to hear from you.

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For more information about Helen of Troy, visit www.helenoftroy.com . You can also find us on LinkedIn , and Glassdoor .

Helen of Troy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to developing a diverse workforce and cultivating an inclusive environment. We value diversity and believe that we are strengthened by the differences in our experiences, thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

We will provide individuals with disabilities with reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application process. If you would like to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at (915) 225-8000.

Founded in 1968, Helen of Troy is a prominent player in the global consumer products industry, offering diverse career opportunities across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. We boast a collection of renowned brands such as OXO, Hydro Flask, Osprey, Honeywell, PUR, Braun, Vicks, Hot Tools, Drybar, Curlsmith, Revlon, and Olive & June - many of which rank #1, #2, or #3 in their respective categories, making the Helen of Troy name synonymous with excellence and ingenuity.

At Helen of Troy, our strategy involves acquiring brands that we can integrate and enhance, amplifying their unique attributes to drive growth and profitability. Embracing a culture of collaboration internally and externally, we are committed to providing innovative solutions tailored to consumers, operational excellence, global scalability, and exceptional shared services to support our brand portfolio. This dedication to fostering development and success sets Helen of Troy apart as a pioneer in the industry, propelling our brands to unparalleled heights of success and recognition worldwide.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified. Management retains the right to add or to change duties of the position at any time.

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