Director Advanced Engineering & Innovation

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world!

Responsibilities:

• Define and lead the Advanced Engineering roadmap and innovation portfolio, aligning technology investments with divisional strategy, customer needs, and long-term growth priorities.
• Identify emerging technologies, advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and market trends that can be converted into differentiated products, platforms, or business opportunities.
• Lead complex advanced development programs from concept through feasibility, validation, and readiness for transfer into industrialization.
• Establish clear portfolio priorities, development gates, business cases, risk assessments, and value measures to guide investment and resource decisions.
• Partner with product, manufacturing, commercial, and business leaders to ensure new technologies deliver meaningful customer value and can scale across products, applications, and manufacturing locations.
• Build strategic partnerships with suppliers, universities, research institutions, corporate technology teams, and external specialists to accelerate innovation and access critical expertise.
• Strengthen global engineering capability through technical networks, knowledge sharing, responsible use of digital and AI-enabled engineering tools, and development of future-focused expertise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in engineering, materials science, mechatronics, manufacturing technology, or a related technical discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
• 10+ years experience in advanced engineering, research and development, technology development, product innovation, or industrialization within an industrial manufacturing or highly engineered products environment.
• Demonstrated success converting emerging technologies into commercially valuable products, manufacturing processes, technology platforms, or new business concepts.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional innovation portfolios and making evidence-based prioritization, investment, and stage-gate decisions.
• Strong understanding of materials, product technologies, manufacturing processes, and the complete development journey from early concept through industrialization readiness.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and lead global, cross-functional initiatives across business units, engineering teams, manufacturing operations, and external partners.
• Open to domestic or international relocation for future career development opportunities as part of a long-term leadership progression path.

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The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.