We are looking for a Technical Director to join our team and lead our Innovation strategy and funnel of new product introductions for our Global customer base.
The position is based in our Singapore HQ. You will report to the Group CEO and lead a team of Global technical professionals in Singapore, UK, Mexico and China to develop innovative customer solutions and implement strategies and processes that align with Forefront Medical's organisational and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
Key Mission
To provide strong visionary technical leadership for our engineering/technology teams while spearheading the efficient and successful introduction of new products and projects from concept through development, tooling and into full-scale production, driving high customer satisfaction and meeting ROI goals for the company. This dual-focus role is critical to ensuring our technical excellence aligns with business goals and accelerates time-to-market for our customers.
Key Responsibilities
1. Define and drive the overall technical vision, strategy, and roadmap for the organisation.
2. Ensure technical solutions are scalable, robust, high quality, and aligned with business objectives
3. Work with Business Development teams to present compelling technical solutions to customers and win new projects
4. Manage and mentor members of the technical team to improve capabilities for future growth.
5. Lead the end-to-end NPI lifecycle from initial concept/feasibility through development, tooling, validation, pilot production, ramp-up, and full commercial launch.
6. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
7. Project Management for NPI - Define project scope, timelines, budgets, resource requirements, and critical milestones for NPIs. Proactively manage risks, dependencies, and roadblocks.
8. Implement and enforce stage-gate reviews, ensuring deliverables meet quality, cost, and timeline targets before proceeding.
9. Ensure project solutions are optimised for manufacturability (DFM), testability (DFT), and serviceability (DFS). Oversee the development of production processes, tooling, test fixtures, and documentation (BOMs, work instructions).
10. Collaborate closely with Supply Chain to ensure component sourcing, procurement, and logistics are established and scalable for new products.
11. Partner with QA to define quality standards, validation protocols (DVT, PVT), reliability testing, and ensure products meet specifications and regulatory requirements.
12. Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, operational, and schedule risks specific to new product launches.
13. Oversee product cost targets throughout development and into production, working with Finance and Operations.
14. Build, lead, and mentor high-performing teams encompassing engineering disciplines (Software, Hardware, Systems) and NPI-specific roles (NPI Engineers, Project Managers, Tooling Designers & Engineers)
15. Provide clear, concise, and regular updates on technical strategy, project status (especially NPI progress), risks, and resource needs to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or related field). Master's degree strongly preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in engineering/technology roles within relevant industries (preferably medical devices and use of plastics and silicon materials).
- Minimum 5+ years in senior technical leadership roles (e.g., Director of Engineering, Engineering Manager, etc).
- Proven track record (5+ years) of successfully leading and managing complex New Product Introduction (NPI) or New Product Development (NPD) processes from concept to high-volume production launch.
- Deep understanding of stage-gate methodologies and product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.
- Strong experience with manufacturing processes, supply chain management, quality systems (e.g., ISO 13485 and 9001), and cost engineering principles.
- Demonstrated ability to manage large budgets and complex project timelines.
- Expertise in relevant engineering disciplines (hardware design, systems engineering, etc.).
- Proficient in project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Hybrid) and tools (Jira, Asana, MS Project).
- Understanding of DFM/DFT/DFS principles.
- Familiarity with regulatory environments (e.g., FDA, FCC, CE).
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
- Excellence in cross-functional collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
- Proven ability to build, motivate, and develop high-performing technical teams.
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and adept at managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Business acumen and customer focus.
- Experience scaling NPI processes in high-growth environments.
- Experience with international manufacturing and supply chains.
