Director Mechanical Engineering

Candela

Stockholm, Sweden

As a Director of Mechanical Engineering you lead the development and industrialization of Candela’s mechanical systems and composite structures. A key priority in this role is driving the P-12 ferry into stable, scalable production. Your scope spans composite structures, foil systems, actuators, and the POD motor—all developed in-house.

Your core responsibilities will include:

Own the Mechanical Engineering team’s output and deliverables, ensuring performance, quality, safety, and speed 
Drive mechanical execution for the P-12 program - from design updates through production readiness, supplier ramp-up, and continuous improvement in serial builds 
Define and maintain the long-term technical roadmap for mechanical systems and composite structures, including resource, financial, and partnership needs 
Work closely with Test & Verification to ensure robust validation - from development testing through production verification 
Act as the main mechanical engineering interface in cross-functional discussions with Production, Quality, and Supply Chain, as well as external partners and suppliers 
Identify and communicate risks related to design, development, industrialization, and implementation 
Coordinate activities within the team and across interfaces, aligning priorities and capabilities to meet production and development targets 
Lead team development, including performance reviews and compensation discussions

Requirements:

MSc in Mechanical Engineering or similar technical field
Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in demanding hardware development environments
Strong track record of taking complex mechanical products from concept into industrialized production
Deep understanding of mechanical design, composite structures, and associated manufacturing methods
Experience balancing development speed, technical robustness, cost, and manufacturability in real-world programs
Comfortable working close to production, suppliers, and testing to solve issues hands-on when needed
Experience defining validation strategies, test plans, and production documentation for safety-critical or high-performance products
Strong engineering judgement and ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-moving environment
Proficiency in CAD tools, preferably CATIA; experience with structural analysis tools is a plus
Clear and direct communication style, with the ability to align technical teams and stakeholders around priorities and execution