Director of Product Development (Engineering)
3 days ago
Arvada
Director of Product Development (Engineering) Job Description Lowtemp Industries | Arvada, Colorado | 100% On-site If you get satisfaction from turning a half-baked idea into a real machine—designed, built, tested, iterated, and shipped—this is your kind of job. Lowtemp is looking for a Director of Product Development to lead new product development across robotics, automation, heat presses, filtration equipment, and pharma-grade stainless equipment that ends up in real facilities doing real work. You’ll report directly to the CEO and own the path from napkin sketch → prototype → manufacturing release. This role matters because what you build won’t sit on a slide deck. It will be in a world-class extraction facility, running production, and customers will depend on it. You are building the future of the cannabis extraction market. About Us Lowtemp Industries is a ~25-person team in Arvada, Co. For the past 10 years, we’ve designed, manufactured, and distributed solventless cannabis extraction equipment—and most recently we’re expanding into cannabis packaging automation and robotics. We’re established enough to ship product at scale, but we still operate with a startup vibe: fast-paced, scrappy, and hands-on. Engineers here don’t throw designs over the wall. You’ll be close to manufacturing, close to the machines, and close to the decisions. This is a 100% on-site role because the work is physical: prototypes, stainless fabrication, robotics integration, test rigs, build issues, and production realities. The Role This is a player–coach position: • ~50% engineering contribution (design, problem-solving, hands-on development), • ~50% project/program leadership (planning, resourcing, delegation, timelines, and execution) You’ll lead a small internal product development team: • 1 Electrical Engineer, • 1 Mechanical Product Development Engineer, • …and you’ll manage/coordinate external contractors as needed. You will: • Own New Product Development (NPD) from concept to manufacturing release, • Set the technical direction and the execution plan for multiple active programs, • Implement NPD Process rigor and discipline to ensure stakeholder alignment, critical for successful product launches, • Build a “scrappy but effective” system for deciding what’s done in-house vs. by contractors, • Create clarity: requirements, milestones, test plans, BOMs, build documentation, and manufacturing handoff., • Help build your direct report engineers professionally. Helping them stay consistent with part numbers, rev control, document discipline, etc., • Keep projects moving when things get messy, • Implement NPD process rigor and discipline to ensure stakeholder alignment critical for successful product launches Why the role is open: our previous Head of Product Development is moving internally into a part time Compliance role, and we need a strong leader to keep product momentum high. What success looks like in the first 6 months • You learn our products, shop capabilities, suppliers, and constraints fast, • You establish a delegation strategy that actually works (lean team + smart contractor leverage), • You bring structure without killing speed—clear priorities, realistic timelines, and crisp execution, • You improve how we go from prototype to repeatable build (DFM, test, documentation, change control that fits our size), • At least 3 product launches within this timeframe (all 3 are already well underway and set for release, so you will get quick experience) What You’ll Build You’ll lead development across a range of machinery and systems, including: • Robotics and packaging automation systems (integration, reliability, iteration, production readiness), • Automation tooling and fixtures for manufacturing and packaging workflows, • Stainless steel extraction equipment (design, fabrication-friendly detailing, sanitation/cleanability considerations), • Heat controls and motor control systems, • Mixers and material handling systems, • Hydraulic presses and press-related subsystems, • Supporting hardware: frames, enclosures, controls integration, sensors, safety systems, and test setups This is a role for someone who likes real machines: tolerances, weldments, lead times, supply chain surprises, electrical noise, fluid/pressure realities, and “it worked yesterday” mysteries. Who You AreMust-haves • Engineering degree (Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing, or similar), • Exceptions can be made for exceptional candidates with exceptional experience., • Proven experience in New Product Development (NPD) for physical products (not just sustaining work), • You’ve owned meaningful chunks of the lifecycle: concept → design → prototype → test → iterate → manufacturing release, • You’re comfortable being both the person who solves the hard problem and the person who organizes the work, • Designing for fabrication/manufacturing (weldments, machined parts, stainless assemblies) Strong indicators you’ll thrive here • You love building in the real world—CAD is necessary but not sufficient, • You can lead a small team with high standards: clear expectations, honest feedback, strong prioritization, • You can manage complex projects without a massive corporate budget: you’re smart about tradeoffs, • You’re a confident delegator: you know what must stay internal and what can be contracted out, • You’re an ambitious leader: Patience is a virtue, just not in product development., • You’re hands-on and practical: prototypes, shop support, build reviews, vendor calls, design revisions, • You communicate clearly with engineers, technicians, leadership, and external partners—no ego, no drama Helpful experience (not required, but great to have) • Robotics/automation integration (controls, sensors, end effectors, reliability improvements), • Experience working closely with production teams and suppliers, • Building test plans, validation approaches, and manufacturing-ready documentation, • Familiarity with safety-minded design around hydraulics, motion systems, and industrial equipment The “Real Talk” Let’s be direct: this is not a slow corporate job. We move fast, we’re scrappy, and sometimes it’s hard and grueling. Priorities can shift. Prototypes break. Vendors miss. A design that looks perfect in CAD will humble you in the shop. So why do it? Because it’s extremely rewarding if you’re the kind of maker/engineer who gets satisfaction from the struggle—who actually enjoys the messy middle between “cool idea” and “shippable product.” You’ll have real ownership, real influence, and the chance to build machinery and robotics systems that customers put to work immediately. If you want a role where: • you can lead product development end-to-end,, • you’re not just a number in a system. You’re a pivotal leader of a small team building really cool things,, • work directly with the CEO,, • build cutting-edge equipment in a hands-on environment, Compensation & Benefits • Base Salary: $110,000 – $135,000 USD per year, dependent on experience and qualifications., • Bonus: This role is eligible for a performance-based bonus with a target of 20% of base salary., • Benefits:, • Comprehensive health insurance. 80% Premium covered with 80% dependents coverage, • Full dental and vision insurance, • 2 weeks Paid Time Off (PTO), • Application Deadline: Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled. Location requirement: This role is 100% on-site in Arvada, Colorado. The work is hands-on and integrated with our shop and manufacturing teams. Equal Opportunity Employer Lowtemp Industries is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.