Director of Engineering

Location: Raleigh, NC (primary manufacturing site, occasional travel to sister facilities)

Employment Type: Full-time, salaried

Reports To: President, SMT Inc.

About SMT, Inc.

SMT, Inc. has been in business since 1969. We are looking to rapidly grow our electrical manufacturing function. Our focus is on designing and building advanced low-voltage switchgear, and industrial control panels. As part of our next phase of growth, we are building in-house UL certifications across multiple product families to establish fully compliant and standardized product lines.

Role Overview

We are seeking an accomplished Director of Engineering to lead the development and implementation of UL 508A and UL 891 certifications from the ground up. This leadership role will be responsible for building the engineering framework, documentation systems, and test programs necessary to achieve and maintain UL listings for SMT Inc.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on experience in UL certification programs, design engineering leadership, and product compliance strategy — with a track record of developing UL files and navigating the certification process directly with UL or other NRTLs.

Requirements:

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and submittal of new UL 508 UL 891 product files for SMT Inc.
• Serve as the technical authority for electrical design standards, compliance documentation, and certification testing.
• Design, document, and validate switchgear and industrial control panels for compliance.
• Develop and maintain UL engineering files, BOM structures, test data, and quality procedures.
• Establish and lead a compliance-focused engineering department, including hiring and mentoring design engineers and drafters.
• Collaborate with fabrication, assembly, and quality teams to integrate compliant manufacturing practices.
• Serve as primary liaison to UL and NRTL inspectors, managing audits, testing, and follow-up actions.
• Implement and enforce engineering change control, labeling standards, and product configuration management.
• Drive the standardization of design templates, drawings, and component libraries across facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical field (Master's preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in design engineering for industrial control equipment, with at least 3+ years managing UL certification programs.
• Proven record of developing new UL 508A or UL 891 certifications (not just maintaining existing ones).
• Deep understanding of low-voltage power distribution, busbar systems, and switchgear assemblies.
• Strong command of UL, NEMA, and NEC standards.
• Experience in leading teams and establishing technical standards across engineering functions.
• Excellent documentation and technical writing skills for submittals and inspection preparation.
• High attention to detail with a proactive, hands-on leadership style.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with UL certification process for new facilities or products.
• Experience coordinating short-circuit, dielectric, and temperature-rise testing.
• Understanding of sheet metal, powder coating, wiring harness, and busbar fabrication processes.
• Prior experience building or scaling a multi-site engineering department.
• Working knowledge of ISO or other quality management systems.
• Professional Engineer (PE) Licensure

What We Offer

• Competitive executive-level compensation with performance-based bonus
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• Career-defining opportunity to build a UL engineering program from the ground up
• Leadership role in a growing industrial platform with long-term advancement potential