Director of Engineering

Endera•Ottawa, OH

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Endera Motors is a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of specialty vehicles, including Class 4 shuttles and school buses. We are driving innovation in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) platforms, with a strong emphasis on delivering best-in-class body designs that meet the evolving needs of transit and commercial customers. We are currently launching multiple new body configurations and expanding our proprietary EV drivetrain and software solutions. Position Overview The Director of Engineering will lead Endera’s engineering organization with a primary focus on the design, development, and validation of new body platforms for both ICE and EV vehicles. This role is pivotal in ensuring the successful execution of our near-term body development programs while maintaining oversight of our EV drivetrain and vehicle integration efforts. The Director of Engineering will collaborate closely with product development, operations, and manufacturing teams to ensure manufacturability, compliance, and cost-effective delivery of new vehicle body programs.

Requirements

10+ years in engineering leadership, with a focus on body design and specialty vehicle development (shuttles, buses, or similar).
Proven track record of taking body design programs from concept to production, including prototype and validation phases.
Strong understanding of both EV and ICE platforms and their unique integration challenges.
Expertise in CAD design, structural analysis, and materials engineering.
Familiarity with EV packaging, battery systems, and vehicle dynamics.
Knowledge of manufacturing methods, tooling, and DFM principles.
Exceptional leadership, project management, and communication skills.
Ability to work cross-functionally and manage complex, multi-phase body development programs.

Nice To Haves

Master’s in Mechanical, Automotive, or Manufacturing Engineering

Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive body engineering strategy, ensuring timely delivery of new body configurations for shuttles and school buses.
Drive innovation in body structure, materials, and design to improve performance, manufacturability, and lifecycle costs.
Partner with executive leadership to align engineering priorities with customer requirements, contracts, and production schedules.
Mentor and build a high-performing engineering team focused on body design, chassis integration, and EV systems.
Body Design & Vehicle Engineering: Lead the end-to-end development of multiple new body designs, from concept and CAD modeling to prototype, validation, and production launch.
Oversee integration of body designs with both ICE and EV powertrain platforms, ensuring seamless mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems compatibility.
Ensure structural integrity, durability, and crashworthiness of all body programs while meeting FMVSS and ADA compliance.
Collaborate with suppliers and fabricators to ensure designs are production-ready and optimized for cost and lead time.
EV Drivetrain & Vehicle Integration: Maintain oversight of EV drivetrain development, including powertrain, VCUs, and software integration.
Ensure EV-specific body configurations are designed for optimal battery packaging, weight distribution, and system performance.
Compliance & Quality: Ensure all vehicle body designs meet regulatory, safety, and quality standards (FMVSS, ADA, ISO 9001).
Manage validation and testing programs (e.g., Altoona, structural testing, and on-road evaluations).
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with production engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless transition of designs to assembly lines.
Work with sales, product, and customer teams to incorporate customer feedback into body designs.
Budget & Resource Management: Manage engineering budgets, timelines, and key program deliverables.
Track KPIs for body program development, ensuring projects stay on cost and schedule.