Director of Mechanical Engineering

The Elevator Pitch

At Evolv, we’re redefining how technology protects people in public spaces by making the world a safer place through human-centered design, system-level thinking, and intelligent engineering. As the Director of Mechanical Engineering, you’ll be at the forefront of that mission, leading the design and development of the next generation of our physical security products.

This is more than a leadership role, it’s an opportunity to drive transformative innovation. You’ll guide a high-performing mechanical engineering team in delivering robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. From advanced plastic injection molding techniques to design-for-manufacturability and reliability, you’ll balance big-picture thinking with meticulous execution.

We’re looking for a leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and believes that continuous improvement is a mindset, not a milestone. You’ll foster a culture of agility, curiosity, and collaboration—both within your team and across disciplines. Through mentorship, strategic vision, and cross-functional partnership, you’ll ensure our mechanical systems not only meet performance and cost targets but exceed expectations in innovation, usability, and real-world impact.

The Work: What type of work will you be doing on a regular basis?

As Director of Mechanical Engineering, you’ll lead the development of innovative, manufacturable, and cost-effective mechanical systems that form the backbone of Evolv’s product portfolio. You’ll guide a talented team through every phase of product development—from concept architecture through high-volume production—while cultivating engineering excellence and driving continuous improvement across our workflows, tools, and culture.

Technical Expertise & Product Development

• Define mechanical platform architecture by translating product requirements into actionable design specifications.
• Lead design and development for both new and evolving products, ensuring reliability, manufacturability, and regulatory compliance.
• Architect complex mechanical systems with an emphasis on plastic injection molding and other high-volume manufacturing techniques.
• Champion Design for Reliability (DfR) principles to ensure long-term product robustness and performance in the field.
• Meet BOM cost targets through strategic component selection, supplier collaboration, and intelligent design tradeoffs.
• Continuously optimize engineering workflows by implementing tools, processes, and standards that improve design quality and team efficiency.
• Stay ahead of industry trends in materials, tools, and technologies to keep Evolv on the bleeding edge.
• Collaborate closely with electrical engineering, industrial design, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to deliver seamless, integrated products.
  

Leadership and Execution

• Inspire, mentor, and grow a high-performing mechanical engineering team, cultivating a culture of excellence, innovation, and shared ownership.
• Drive successful product delivery by managing architectural decisions, design reviews, milestone tracking, and execution oversight.
• Provide strategic guidance while removing roadblocks and resolving cross-functional dependencies across hardware, software, and quality domains.
• Foster a feedback-rich environment by conducting thoughtful performance reviews and mentoring team members in both technical and leadership development.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance engineering velocity and reduce cost, waste, and inefficiency.
  

Communication and Presentation

• Clearly articulate the team’s vision, work, and impact to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment across functions and leadership.
• Lead and participate in technical design reviews, presenting complex topics with clarity, rigor, and confidence.
• Serve as a trusted engineering voice in cross-functional strategy discussions, representing mechanical engineering in high-stakes decision-making.
  

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Champion operational excellence by implementing metrics, benchmarks, and retrospectives that support a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Proactively remove distractions and administrative burdens from the team, allowing engineers to stay focused on solving meaningful, high-impact challenges.

Success in the Role: What performance outcomes will you work towards completing?

Within the First Month:

• Build relationships with team members to understand their roles, strengths, and ongoing projects.
• Begin forging trusted partnerships across the leadership team and key cross-functional collaborators.
• Familiarize yourself with current programs—their architectures, development phases, and pressing technical challenges.
• Gain access to all necessary mechanical engineering tools, documentation systems, and development environments.
• Learn and evaluate current operational processes, including ECO, MRB, and release workflows.
• Identify core stakeholders across R&D, manufacturing, and operations, and understand their involvement in product development.
• Visit our contract manufacturing partner to gain firsthand insight into production workflows, build constraints, and supply chain dynamics.
  

Within the First Three Months:

• Serve as the mechanical engineering voice in cross-functional leadership forums and shape decisions that impact product strategy and execution.
• Take ownership of the mechanical engineering roadmap for Evolv’s next-generation detection platform.
• Drive lifecycle improvements for current products (e.g., Express and Expedite), balancing quality, cost, and performance.
• Provide hands-on support and mentorship across at least three major mechanical engineering challenges, modeling technical excellence and approachability.
  

By the End of the First Year:

• Be recognized as the go-to authority for mechanical engineering—confident in your expertise, and even more confident in your ability to tap the right resources when needed.
• Cultivate a high-performing, collaborative team culture that exemplifies cross-functional alignment, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure mechanical engineering support is instrumental in launching new products on time, on spec, and within budget.
• Partner with People Operations to attract and hire exceptional engineering talent aligned with Evolv’s annual hiring and growth plan (AOP).
• Partner with the EVP of Engineering to define and implement 2–3 meaningful performance metrics that drive transparency, growth, and innovation within the ME team.

What is the Structure and Culture of the Team?

You will be joining the R&D Organization and reporting to the Executive Vice President of Engineering. The R&D organization is made up of more than 50 dedicated developers, engineers, and managers with deep expertise who are always willing to help. The team culture is one based on building trust, collaboration, on-going development through kindness, authenticity, courage, drive, and fun!

Where is the role located?

This role is based out of the HQ in Waltham, Massachusetts with flexibility in being remote some days.

What is the salary range?

The base salary range for this full-time position is $190,000 - $225,000, plus bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in role posting reflect the base salary only, and do not include commission, equity, or benefits.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role
• Expertise in plastic injection molding and high-volume manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of Design for Reliability (DfR) and environmental/durability testing
• Proven ability to manage Bill of Materials (BOM) cost targets without sacrificing performance
• Proficient in 3D computer-aided design (CAD) tools such as SolidWorks or Creo; experience with finite element analysis (FEA)
• Experience collaborating with overseas suppliers and contract manufacturers
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Bonus Points For:

• Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and design documentation best practices
• Background in regulated industries (e.g., medical devices, automotive, consumer electronics)
• Familiarity with system-level engineering and cross-disciplinary product development

At Evolv, we’re on a mission to help make public spaces safer through innovative security technology. Rooted in our values of authenticity, kindness, courage, drive, and fun, we offer the opportunity to make a real impact. Our team thrives in a supportive, honest environment where creativity and collaboration are celebrated, and where we challenge the status quo to keep improving. 

When you join Evolv, you’ll not only work with cutting-edge technology but also enjoy competitive benefits that support your well-being, and personal growth. 

Our Benefits Include: 

• Equity as part of your total compensation package 
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 
• A 401(k) plan (and 2% company match) 
• Unlimited vacation policy  
• Quarterly stipend for perks and benefits that matter most to you 
• Tuition reimbursement to support your ongoing learning and development 
• Subscription to Calm 

Evolv Technology (“Evolv”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace, and all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law in the locations where we operate. Evolv will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Evolv is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of the job application process, please connect with us at [email protected].