Director of STEM R&D

WHO WE ARE: BirdBrain Technologies is an innovative, 100% employee-owned company dedicated to transforming education through hands-on learning. Based in Eau Claire, WI, we specialize in developing creative tools that inspire students and educators to engage with STEM concepts in meaningful ways. Our culture is built around ownership, and our employees directly benefit from the company's success.

WHAT WE DO: We cultivate creativity and make abstract concepts hands-on by providing flexible and inspiring classroom tools. Our mission is to support educators in bringing hands-on learning into any classroom.

WHY CHOOSE US? Join a 100% employee-owned companywhere your contributions make an impact! Our culture is built around ownership, and our employees directly benefit from the company's success. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 100% company-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that grows in value as the company thrives
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching up to 6%
• Generous paid time off (20+ days annually)
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Wellness programs including gym reimbursements and incentives for healthy living
• Dependent care flexible spending account
• Long-term and short-term disability coverage
• Tuition assistance for continuing education
• Paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Charitable giving opportunities, including paid volunteer time and donation matching

THE OPPORTUNITY: We are seeking a Director of STEM R&D to lead the research, development, and engineering of innovative STEM education products, ensuring alignment with industry trends, educational standards, and customer needs. This role directs an external network of developers in software, electrical, mechanical, design, and manufacturing engineering, overseeing the full product development lifecycle from concept to market launch.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads the research and development of new STEM education products, ensuring innovation and market relevance
• Contracts, directs and coordinates an external network of developers across software, electrical, mechanical, design, and manufacturing engineering
• Oversees product design, prototyping, and testing to meet quality, usability, and manufacturability standards
• Collaborates with educators, industry experts, and internal stakeholders to align products with educational and workforce needs
• Partners with product strategy team on development of the STEM R&D roadmap, prioritizing projects based on strategic goals and market opportunities
• Guides the team in conducting research on emerging STEM trends, technologies, and best practices
• Works closely with marketing and sales teams to support go-to-market strategies and product positioning
• Ensures compliance with educational standards and regulations relevant to STEM learning solutions
• Manages budgets and resources for STEM R&D initiatives, optimizing efficiency and impact
• Establishes partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and educational organizations to enhance product development
• Provides technical oversight and strategic direction for external engineering teams to ensure high-quality product development

WHAT YOU BRING:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Product Development, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in STEM product development, educational technology, or related areas
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing external development teams in an R&D or product development environment
• Ability to understand and evaluate technical concepts in engineering, software development, and manufacturing to provide feedback to external partners

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in a STEM-related field or Educational Technology
• Strong technical background in engineering, software, or product development
• Experience working in K-12 or higher education curriculum development
• Background in hands-on learning methodologies and project-based STEM education
• Familiarity with grant funding and research initiatives in STEM education

WORK LOCATION: BirdBrain Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. This is a fully remote position, but in-office presence is required at least every other month.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Occasional travel required for trade shows, industry events, and collaboration with educational partners and external engineering teams.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US: Discover more about our mission and impact at www.birdbraintechnologies.com.

BirdBrain Technologies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. BirdBrain Technologies, Inc. is a tobacco-free environment.