Mechanical Design Engineer Program Manager

About Audien Hearing

Audien Hearing is on a mission to make hearing affordable, accessible, and stigma-free for everyone. Proudly serving over 1 million customers, we lead the way in the over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid industry by combining innovative technology with a direct-to-consumer model. Our team is passionate about building high-impact products that empower individuals to reconnect with the world around them-at a fraction of traditional hearing aid costs.

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Mechanical Design Engineer Program Manager to lead complex, interdisciplinary mechanical engineering projects. As the EPM, you will sit at the intersection of design, manufacturing, and product management, guiding teams to deliver high-quality, innovative hardware on time and within budget. You will bridge the gap between design engineering and operations, driving product development from concept to prototype validation and mass production ramp.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Drive the end-to-end development of mechanical hardware components and subsystems, leading cross-functional teams (Design, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, and Reliability).
• Project Management & Scheduling: Create, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules, milestones, and deliverables. Proactively identify risks, mitigate bottlenecks, and implement recovery plans to prevent project slippage.
• Design & Engineering Oversight: Work closely with stakeholders to define, design, review, and evaluate product specifications. Provide technical expertise to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturing (DFM), assembly (DFA), and reliability.
• Technical Communication: Act as the single point of contact for project status, communicating technical and schedule risks to leadership.
• Change Control & Documentation: Manage engineering change orders (ECOs) and configuration management to ensure smooth transitions across design iterations and build phases. Maintain all design control documentation.
• Validation & Testing: Coordinate prototype builds and pilot/production ramp-up, ensuring validation and testing requirements are met.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience in mechanical design engineering, with at least 3+ years in a program/project management role within a hardware manufacturing environment (e.g., automotive, consumer electronics, or medical devices).
• Technical Proficiency: Solid understanding of mechanical design principles and CAD software, such as SolidWorks.
• Manufacturing Knowledge: Proven experience driving products from prototype to mass production. Experience with manufacturing techniques like injection molding, casting, CNC machining, or sheet metal.
• Tooling Experience: Understanding of injection molding tooling and product design tooling constraints.
• Product Definition Change Management Experience: Experience with Bill of Materials (BOM) structures, change control, and supplier management.
• Program Management Skills: Proficient in MS Project or similar project tracking software.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Medical Device or Hearing Aid experience
• Mechanical CAD surface modeling design experience