Director - Engineering Design Program

About the Opportunity Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and a world leader in experiential learning. The same commitment to connecting with the world drives our use-inspired research enterprise. The university offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools. Our campuses across North America and in the UK are platforms for undergraduate and graduate learning and collaborative research. Northeastern's signature cooperative education model integrates rigorous academic study with professional experience, producing graduates who are career-ready from day one. Summary: Reporting to the Dean of Engineering and in close collaboration with the Dean of the Oakland campus, the Director of the Engineering Design Program provides strategic and visionary leadership and administrative oversight for the BS in Engineering Design program at the Oakland campus. This is a founding leadership role responsible for launching, building, and scaling a first-of-its-kind undergraduate engineering program designed to produce AI-fluent, human-centered, interdisciplinary engineers who are ready to contribute from day one in industry. The ideal candidate is an innovative engineering educator who brings both deep technical expertise and a track record of reimagining how engineering is taught. This leader understands that the next generation of engineers must be more than technically proficient — they must be AI-fluent, entrepreneurially minded, and equipped to solve complex, human-centered problems across disciplinary boundaries. They are excited by the opportunity to build a program from the ground up that challenges traditional engineering education models and sets a new standard for what an undergraduate engineering degree can be. The Director is responsible for creating, expanding, and managing a diverse portfolio of industry partnerships, curriculum development initiatives, and experiential learning opportunities — including co-op placements and industry-sponsored capstone projects — that bring the program's vision to life. This role operates within a self-supporting financial model and requires demonstrated ability to develop revenue-generating partnerships at multiple levels, ranging from project sponsorships and curriculum co-development to fully integrated talent pipeline and co-location arrangements. Working collaboratively across engineering faculty, academic administrators, and external industry partners, the Director builds a unified, high-impact program that integrates technical engineering fundamentals with AI fluency, human-centered design, entrepreneurial thinking, and multidisciplinary systems thinking. The Director develops and promotes marketing initiatives through strategic public relations and community outreach, and works in concert with campus leadership to strategize on program growth across the Bay Area. The position demands exceptional ability to lead interdisciplinary groups, convene diverse stakeholders, and build consensus across departments and industries to achieve the program's mission of producing engineers of the future who can not only build what is technically possible, but imagine, design, and bring to market what is genuinely needed. Qualifications: Education & Experience: PhD in engineering or a closely related field required Demonstrated experience designing, launching, or significantly reforming engineering education programs, with a focus on experiential, interdisciplinary, or AI-integrated learning models Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in academic program leadership, industry partnership management, or workforce development within an engineering or technical higher education setting Experience in a co-op-based or experiential learning environment strongly preferred Record of scholarly or applied work in engineering education, curriculum innovation, or related fields is a plus Technical Knowledge & Skills: Deep understanding of engineering education pedagogy, competency frameworks, and industry workforce trends, with a particular emphasis on next-generation and AI-integrated curriculum design Familiarity with the application of AI tools — including machine learning, simulation, and data analysis — in engineering practice and education Broad knowledge across multidisciplinary engineering domains including mechanical, thermal, electrical, and data systems, sufficient to credibly lead a cross-disciplinary program Experience with learning management systems, co-op or experiential learning platforms, and CRM systems Understanding of industry accreditation standards relevant to undergraduate engineering programs (e.g., ABET) Leadership & Management: Proven track record of successful program development and revenue generation within a self-supporting business model Demonstrated ability to build and sustain partnerships with engineering firms, technology companies, and industry organizations, spanning project sponsorship, curriculum co-development, and deep talent pipeline integration Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives Track record of innovation in program delivery, industry engagement, and business model development Budget management experience and financial acumen Established relationships with engineering and technology organizations in the Bay Area or comparable markets Ability to develop and lead strategic initiatives and follow through to completion; excellent management, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills A high degree of self-motivation and self-direction, coupled with a proven track record of collaborative work and demonstrated success in partnership development and relationship management Ability to work in a matrixed environment to deliver against shared goals Effective communicator and collaborator with the