Director Mechanical Engineering

Want to shape the future of waterborne transport and join a world-class team?
Candela is the global leader in electric hydrofoil vessels. Since 2014, we’ve gone from building our first premium electric speedboat in a small Stockholm workshop to delivering game-changing vessels around the globe. The Candela P-12 is our latest innovation - the world’s first electric hydrofoil ferry is not just operating in Stockholm, but now attracting orders from around the world.
Our boats “fly” thanks to computer-guided underwater wings under the hull made out of lightweight carbon fiber. The wings lift the vessel above the water, which results in cutting energy use by up to 80%, while offering zero emissions and a far better passenger experience than traditional diesel vessels.
And that’s exactly why we do this. Our mission is clear: to speed up the transition to fossil fuel–free lakes and oceans.
You can be part of the amazing team in Candela now! We are looking for Mechanical Engineering Director to support Candela’s future growth ambitions.
As a Director of Mechanical Engineering to 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



You are a collaborative and hands-on leader who thrives in fast-moving and technically demanding environments. You combine strong engineering judgement with a structured and solution-oriented mindset, and you are comfortable balancing speed, quality, and long-term scalability. With clear and direct communication, you are able to align teams and stakeholders around priorities while driving execution and continuous improvement.
Form of employment: Full-time with initial 6 month probation period
Start date: ASAP
Location/base: Rotebro/Frihamnen
Team: Research & Development
Reporting to: VP R&D
Why people love working at Candela?
At Candela, we’re not just building electric vessels - we’re creating a whole new category of clean, efficient waterborne transport. You get the chance to work with cutting-edge technology, solving complex challenges, and seeing the results in action - sometimes literally, when we organize test rides for our newcomers! We’re a diverse and ambitious team of over 50 nationalities, united by a revolutionary spirit and kindness. That means we work hard, but always with humility and while having fun - whether it’s solving a manufacturing challenge, improving processes, or cheering each other on during Candela Months, our year-round calendar of bonding activities and events.
We’re office-first but not office-only. We believe collaboration is most powerful when we build together, in person - but we also trust our team to work in ways that fit their life. At Candela, you’ll find a place where bold ideas are welcomed, great people are celebrated, and the ride is just as important as the destination.
Recruitment process:
We aim to keep our recruitment process as straightforward and efficient as possible. As an international company with English as our corporate language, the entire process is conducted in English. Therefore, please submit your application in our corporate language as well. Kindly note that we cannot process applications sent via email due to GDPR so please use our career website for you application.
We welcome the opportunity to meet you!