Director, Mechanical Subsystem Engineering (Refrigeration)

The team you will be a part of:

The Global Engineering team discovers, develops and evaluates new product ideas, enhancements, or strategic product extensions, and translates research discoveries into usable and marketable products. Leads, plans and tracks all phases of the product life cycle, from inception to introduction into the marketplace. Coordinates with various functions to ensure successful product development and implementation.

This role in summary:

Whirlpool Corporation is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director, Mechanical Sub-System Engineering - Refrigeration to lead the development and integration of cutting-edge mechanical structures within our innovative refrigeration product lines. This pivotal role will drive technical excellence, foster a culture of innovation, and develop world-class engineering talent across our global organization, with a significant presence and leadership responsibility for our Global Product Organization (GPO) at our Mexico site.

This leader will be directly responsible for ensuring our mechanical structures subsystem solutions consistently achieve and exceed attribute targets, contributing directly to our product leadership criteria. This includes strategic roadmap development, driving operational excellence through cost and quality targets, and leading a high-performing team capable of delivering scalable solutions across multiple refrigeration architectures.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and drive the Mechanical Structures Sub-system/Technology roadmap, ensuring it aligns with broader architecture/functional roadmaps, Platform and Regional Product Plans, and the attainment of critical attribute targets for refrigeration products
• Lead complex trade-offs across multiple workstreams to deliver optimal subsystem level targets
• Develop and maintain the System Model at the sub-system level for Mechanical Structures, ensuring robust analysis and predictive capabilities
• Define, develop, and capture critical knowledge targets to support cutting-edge solution development in mechanical structures for refrigeration
• Translate high level technical and sub-system attribute targets into precise, actionable module and component level targets
• Assess the current capability of architecture, supply base, manufacturing processes, and customer solutions against defined attribute targets (Project KPIs). Proactively identify and address "N.U.D.s" (New, Unique,
• Difficult or Not Understood Decisions/Developments) where current capabilities fall short
• Act as the Global Product Organization (GPO) Leader for the Mexico site (~250 HC, across multiple platforms), fostering a culture of engagement, technical excellence, and continuous improvement
• Lead the development of talent, ensuring the organization possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to create innovative technical solutions for product leadership in refrigeration
• Mentor, coach, and empower engineering teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment
• Ensure effective integration of Mechanical Structures Sub-system development into overall project delivery (Quality, Cost, Schedule)
• Drive architecture reduction initiatives to simplify designs, reduce complexity, and improve efficiency where possible

Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive engineering experience in mechanical design and development
• Minimum of 5 years of people leadership experience in engineering, leading large, complex teams
• Experience working with global teams and leading initiatives across different geographical sites, with a strong ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders
• Strong understanding and practical experience with Lean Product Development (Lean PD), Operational Excellence (OPEX), and Design for Safety/Reliability principles
• Expertise in mechanical structures, materials science, and their application within complex systems
• Proven experience in leading product development cycles from concept to launch, with a strong understanding of full lifecycle management
• Demonstrated experience with cost optimization, quality management systems, and a commitment to delivering robust, reliable products
• Ability to apply a strong systems engineering approach, translating high-level requirements into detailed sub-system specifications and managing interdependencies

Preferred skills and experiences:

• Master's degree
• Minimum of 5 years in refrigeration product development, including deep knowledge of thermal/structural systems, industry standards, and relevant technologies
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or related fields
• Experience in a global company with a strong culture of innovation and intellectual property development

What we offer:

Competitive compensation packages, generous benefits package, Whirlpool employee discounts, and more!

Brands That Innovate: We are focused on innovation that inspires consumers, and we design and build our products around what families and households really want and need. Sure, we’re designing and manufacturing some of the “smartest”, most technologically advanced appliances in the world. But what gets us most excited is empowering our people with the freedom to shape their futures while challenging themselves every day to make our customers’ lives better. For more than 110 years, with our products, we have helped families take care of loved ones. Improving life at home is why we exist and why we are passionate about what we do.

Additional information:

Whirlpool’s Ways of Working:

Our goal is to provide an environment that helps you bring your best to Whirlpool every day. While employees in this role work in-person Monday through Friday. We offer flexibility and industry-leading time-off benefits that will help you balance what’s important at work and at home, including:

• Always On Flexibility - You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
• Two-Week Work from Anywhere - Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
• Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.

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