ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Director New Product Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MECCA

New Product Development Lead

Richmond, VA · On-site

$113.30K - $141.50K/yr

As our New Product Development Lead on a 12-month contract , you will take ownership of delivering innovative beauty products from concept through to launch. Working across MECCA MAX and colour, this ...

Carrier

New Product Development Engineer

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$64.50K - $129.50K/yr

About this role The New Product Development Engineer (Systems Engineer) will support the design, development, and validation of residential HVAC systems. This role is responsible for applying ...

HEICO

New Product Development Analyst

Miramar, FL · On-site

The New Product Development Analyst, reporting to the General Manager, this position will be part ... Interface with Department Manager, Sales Directors, Engineers, and Supply Chain, to aid in ...

Morphe

Director, Product Development

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Product Development & Innovation: · Oversee the formulation of new products, ensuring high-quality ... a "direct threat" to the health and safety to self or others. The Company reserves the right to ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsDirector New Product Development Jobs

Director New Product Development information

See salary details

$73K

$163.7K

$244.5K

How much do director new product development jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for director new product development in the United States is $163,684.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,500.00 and $185,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of New Product Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of New Product Development, you need a strong background in product lifecycle management, market analysis, and strategic planning, often supported by a degree in business, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Asana), design thinking methodologies, and certifications such as PMP or Agile are typically valuable. Exceptional leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial to successfully drive innovation, align teams, and deliver products that meet market needs and business goals.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of New Product Development and how can they be addressed?

A Director of New Product Development often navigates challenges such as balancing innovation with feasibility, aligning cross-functional teams, and managing tight timelines. Successfully addressing these issues typically involves fostering open communication among departments, implementing agile project management methodologies, and establishing clear product development milestones. Staying attuned to market feedback and being adaptable to change are also key strategies for overcoming obstacles and ensuring successful product launches.

What does a Director of New Product Development do?

A Director of New Product Development oversees the entire process of creating and launching new products within a company. This role involves leading cross-functional teams, conducting market research, managing budgets, and ensuring products meet customer needs and business goals. The director coordinates activities from idea generation through design, testing, and final launch, while also aligning the product strategy with the company’s overall objectives. This position requires strong leadership, project management skills, and the ability to drive innovation.

What is the difference between Director New Product Development vs Product Manager?

AspectDirector New Product DevelopmentProduct Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire product development strategies, manages teams, and aligns product innovation with company goals.Focuses on product lifecycle, defines features, and works closely with development teams to deliver products.
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in Business, Engineering, or related fields; extensive experience in product development.Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related fields; experience in product management.
Work EnvironmentStrategic, leadership-focused, often in cross-functional teams within corporate settings.Collaborative, detail-oriented, working closely with engineering, marketing, and sales teams.

The main difference between a Director New Product Development and a Product Manager lies in scope and leadership. The Director leads the overall product development strategy and manages teams, while the Product Manager focuses on specific product features and lifecycle management. Both roles require relevant experience, but the director's role is more strategic and managerial.

More about Director New Product Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Director New Product Development jobs? Cities with the most Director New Product Development job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of New Product Development jobs? The most popular types of New Product Development jobs are:
What states have the most Director New Product Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Director New Product Development jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director New Product Development jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director New Product Development jobs are:
Director New Product Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director New Product Development job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 90% In-person, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $163,684 per year, or $78.7 per hour.
Director, New Product Development

Director, New Product Development

Ursa Major

Berthoud, CO

$190K - $238K/yr

Other

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Our products and technologies require an extraordinary team. A team that will mold tomorrow's technologies while deploying today's best. We are an intrinsically motivated team that has a passion for solving problems and empowering each other every day to develop our skills, knowing that there is always room for growth.

As the Director, New Product Development, you are responsible for driving the maturation of new technologies into production-ready solid rocket motor (SRM) products. In this role, you will define the front end of product development: shaping architectures, sizing systems, and ensuring new ideas align with customer needs and mission requirements. The Director leads technology development programs, manages early customer engagement, and balances innovation with executable product strategies. By bridging research and productization, this leader ensures that investments in new technologies translate into fielded capabilities that scale across programs.

Responsibilities:

  • Technology Development Leadership - Direct the research and maturation of emerging SRM technologies into viable products. Prioritize and manage investments in new materials, processes, and architectures. Track progress of TRL including investment milestones and projected maturity over time.
  • Customer Engagement & Concept Shaping - Partner with customers at the front end of programs to understand requirements, define feasible solutions, and ensure alignment between technology development and mission needs.
  • Systems-Level Optimization - Lead system-level studies including propulsion sizing, performance trades, and mission analysis on early concepts. Ensure early designs balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and integration.
  • New Product Introduction - Establish processes that transition technologies from concept to early hardware demonstration and eventual production readiness. Ensure seamless handoff to Chief Engineer and design/development teams. 
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration - Partner with Business Development, Government Relations, Chief Engineer, Systems & Analysis, and Design/Development teams to align technology investments with long-term enterprise strategy.
  • Bookings ownership - setting priority and reporting on monthly/quarterly projections/actuals
  • Manage proposal execution - Manage team that executes gate reviews, writing proposals, architecting proposal solutions, cost estimating, and writing whitepapers.
  • New supplier/partner/consultant engagement - Contribute to finding and nurturing key external relationships to support pursuing new business opportunities.
  • Drive market alignment - Identify key requirements, trends and emerging markets to identify opportunities/risks and align products/roadmaps to drive business growth.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Business, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
  • 15+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, R&D or a related field, with a focus on solid rocket motors.
  • Proven experience leading early-phase technology programs and transitioning them to productization
  • Strong technical aptitude in a related field with the ability to engage with engineering and technical teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to interface directly with customers and translate mission needs into technical solutions
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence and inspire a diverse team.
  • Experience managing budgets and overseeing P&L for a department

Preferred Experience:

  • Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering or related field
  • Direct leadership of government or defense-funded technology maturation programs
  • Experience with SRM subsystems (cases, nozzles, insulation, grain design) and new materials/processes
  • Familiarity with digital engineering, modeling & simulation, and rapid prototyping methods
  • Track record of building and mentoring multidisciplinary R&D teams

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $190,000 - $238,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can't quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy. 

Classification: Full-time Exempt

Apply