Engineering Director

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control, and energy solutions at our company-owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China. 

The Director of Engineering, Gas Heaters & Heat Pumps, is a senior leadership role responsible for setting the technical direction, execution strategy, and operational discipline for all New Product Development (NPD) and Sustaining Engineering activities at Hayward’s Nashville facility.

This role leads a multidisciplinary engineering organization – including mechanical engineers, HVAC engineers, designers, and technicians – and is accountable for product innovation, portfolio health, engineering excellence, and capability development. The Director plays a critical role in shaping Hayward’s long-term technology roadmap for heating systems with specific responsibility for electrification via heat pump products as well as combustion technology development, system optimization, and safe, efficient gas-fired heater performance while ensuring predictable execution, regulatory compliance, and high-quality product delivery.

The successful candidate functions as a strategic leader and operational executive, driving enterprise alignment, technology advancement, and performance accountability across engineering programs.

Strategic Leadership & Business Impact

• 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 - including modular product platform architecture, heat exchanger & burner optimization, control system advancement/innovation, operating efficiency improvements, and advancing our 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.

Engineering Operations & Program Execution

• 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.

Organizational Leadership & Talent Development

• 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.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• 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.

External Partnerships & Resource Management

• 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.

Governance, Risk & 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.

Innovation & Market Leadership

• 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 high-efficiency gas heating solutions.

• 12+ years of progressive engineering leadership within product development and manufacturing.
• 8+ years of experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven track record of delivering products from concept to commercialization.
• Experience working in HVAC, heating systems, thermal management, or closely related industries strongly preferred.
• Direct experience with combustion systems, gas burner design, heat exchanger development, ignition technologies, emissions compliance, or gas-fired appliance development strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience balancing innovation with execution discipline.
• Vendor and outsourced engineering management experience preferred.
• Strong program governance and executive-level communication skills.
• Requires 10% travel.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline required.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field preferred.
• Advanced coursework or training in combustion engineering, HVAC, thermodynamics, or fluid mechanics is considered an advantage.

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