Chief Engineer - Innovation & Applications

Insight Global’s client, a global leader in electromechanical components, is seeking a Chief Engineer with deep expertise in power electronics—particularly electromechanical relays, transformers, and magnetics—to lead advanced development initiatives and drive customer-facing application engineering. This highly visible leadership role combines strategic technology direction, hands-on technical leadership, and strong customer engagement to influence product strategy and accelerate company growth. You will play a pivotal role in shaping innovation for emerging markets such as electric mobility (EV), renewable energy, and smart grid modernization.

This is a full-time on-site (5 days per week) position in Vista, CA.

Key Responsibilities:
40% – Core Engineering Leadership:
-Provide both leadership and direct technical contribution to ongoing engineering activities.
-Ensure compliance and certification of product lines across global markets.
-Collaborate with quality and reliability teams to resolve technical issues and maintain performance, safety, and regulatory standards.
-Participate in detailed engineering reviews and validations.
-Mentor junior engineers and elevate technical maturity within the organization.

20% – Innovation & Technology Development:
-Analyze emerging technology trends: relay design, switching technologies, miniaturization, digital control integration, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
-Translate insights into actionable product strategies for target markets:
-Industrial automation
-E-mobility
-Renewable energy systems
-Smart grid modernization
-Building automation
-Advanced manufacturing
-Define specifications, validate feasibility with global manufacturing partners (China/Vietnam), and shape next-generation product opportunities.

40% – Customer-Facing Application Engineering:
-Engage with key OEM and Tier 1 customers to understand platform roadmaps and performance targets.
-Provide application-level guidance, develop reference designs, troubleshoot integration challenges, and ensure the company’s components are positioned as optimal technical solutions.
-Act as a trusted technical advisor to drive adoption and long-term partnerships.

Compensation: $250,000 per year annual salary. Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education. Benefit packages for this role include: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to HR@insightglobal.com.To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

Experience:
-Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering
-10–12 years in relay components, industrial automation, or power electronics design.
-Proven ability to identify technology and market trends and convert insights into commercially successful products.
-Demonstrated success influencing product direction and driving innovation.
-Proven success in customer-facing application engineering, including developing tailored solutions and building trust with OEM/Tier 1 customers.
-Experience navigating global compliance and certification processes, including US and European safety standards.
-Comfortable traveling domestically for customer visits and internationally for collaboration with global manufacturing partners.

Technical Depth:
-Strong foundation in electrical engineering and component-level design.
-Familiarity with compliance and certification processes for global markets.

Leadership & Communication:
-Ability to manage 2–3 direct reports and mentor junior engineers.
-Excellent communication skills for customer-facing and internal collaboration.
-Ability to operate independently, and maintain a self-contained, professional approach when interacting with peers and senior leadership.

Strategic Mindset:
-Comfortable operating in a flat, agile organization.
-Pragmatic approach to balancing innovation with manufacturing realities.
-Strong market intelligence skills; ability to anticipate trends and translate insights into actionable product strategies.

-Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline
-Advanced training in power electronics, component design, reliability engineering, or applied physics

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.