Regulatory Compliance Director | Hybrid in Irvine, CA

Determining compensation for this role depends upon factors including skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, office location, and other business needs. As required by local law, the salary range for this role is $170K–$220K. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

About the role

Our client is looking for an experienced Regulatory Compliance Director to lead their global compliance function. In this role, you will build and manage the Regulatory Compliance team, serve as the company's senior internal subject matter expert, and represent the company on all regulatory matters—from early design through product launch and market-sustaining activities. This is a hybrid role based in Irvine, CA, requiring regular office visits and travel to other offices, test labs, and ODMs.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Leadership:
  • Define and own the company's global regulatory compliance strategy, aligning it with the product roadmap and business objectives.
  • Lead, mentor, and grow the Regulatory Compliance team; set clear goals, provide coaching, and cultivate a high-performance culture.
  • Serve as the leading subject matter expert on all regulatory, radio, safety, and EMC matters for company products.
  • Champion regulatory compliance awareness across the organization and with external partners, including ODMs and strategic accounts.
• Product Compliance & Homologation:
  • Oversee the identification of applicable regulatory, radio, safety, and EMC standards across all company products in collaboration with engineering, suppliers, and third-party test labs.
  • Drive design-stage compliance by actively participating in design reviews and risk analyses, embedding regulatory considerations early in the product development lifecycle.
  • Lead product homologation efforts across all markets where company products are sold, ensuring timely and thorough approvals.
  • Develop and manage comprehensive product test plans in partnership with external labs, overseeing international regulatory approval projects end-to-end.
  • Manage carrier certification processes, including GCF and PTCRB, for the company's cellular product portfolio.
• Stakeholder & Partner Management:
  • Function as the primary contact for the company's strategic accounts on all regulatory compliance matters, providing expert guidance and maintaining strong executive-level relationships.
  • Serve as the company's primary point of contact with customers, suppliers, test labs, and certification bodies on regulatory compliance-related matters.
  • Lead the team in partnering with internal departments to proactively identify, address, and resolve regulatory issues across product lines.
• Documentation & Governance:
  • Own and maintain all regulatory compliance documentation in accordance with the company's established standards and guidelines.
  • Apply working knowledge of product configuration management practices (BOMs, specifications, ECR/ECO/MCO, part numbers, rules of interchangeability) to maintain compliance records.
  • Collaborate with the ESG Committee to align compliance with the company's broader CSR/ESG commitments and contribute compliance data to ESG disclosures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related technical field.
• A minimum of 8 years' experience as a function head with a successful track record in leading a team.
• Experience in consumer electronics or wireless products, such as security cameras, lights, batteries, power adapters, or solar panels, with a thorough understanding of the latest product safety compliance standards and certification processes with third-party labs.
• Working knowledge of product configuration management practices (BOMs, specifications, ECR/ECO/MCO, part numbers, rules of interchangeability).
• Highly analytical, organized, and strong program management skills.
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively, with strong storytelling skills.
• Ability to travel internationally a few times a year.
• Experience with carrier certifications (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular, Z-Wave, ZigBee, Telstra) is preferred.
• Mandarin-speaking is a plus.

Pay

$170K–$220K base salary, plus eligibility for discretionary bonuses and participation in medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) retirement benefits.