Associate Director of Engineering & Innovation Career Advising

Associate Director Of Engineering & Innovation Career Advising

The Associate Director of Engineering & Innovation Career Advising serves as Northeastern University's dedicated career specialist for students pursuing roles in mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, industrial, and bioengineering, as well as robotics, advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy, and adjacent engineering and innovation disciplines. As a core member of the Career Education Center's sector-based advising team, this role brings deep, current knowledge of the engineering and innovation talent market to bear on every aspect of student career development from first-year exploration through full-time offer negotiation. The Engineering & Innovation Career Advisor designs and delivers sector-specific programming, maintains active employer relationships with engineering firms, manufacturers, defense contractors, energy companies, and innovation-driven enterprises across scales and geographies, and uses labor market data and AI-enabled tools to give students a competitive edge. This professional understands how engineering hiring is being reshaped by AI and automation including changes to recruiting processes, evolving technical competency expectations, and emerging roles at the intersection of engineering, data, and systems thinking which translates that intelligence into practical, outcome-focused advising and workshops. The role is ideal for someone who has worked in or alongside engineering or innovation-driven industries, speaks the language of engineering hiring managers, technical recruiters, and project leads, and is energized by helping students land meaningful, high-quality opportunities and full-time employment in fields that are building the infrastructure, systems, and technologies of the future.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree is required and a master's degree preferred; degrees and/or experience in engineering, applied sciences, higher education, counseling, engineering management, or related fields given preference. Familiarity with professional licensure pathways (e.g., FE/PE exam preparation) is a plus.
• Minimum of 46 years of experience in career services, engineering or technical recruiting, workforce development, or the engineering, manufacturing, defense, or energy industries, with demonstrated understanding of engineering sector hiring practices, co-op and internship pipelines, and role landscapes.
• Substantive knowledge of the engineering and innovation job markets including familiarity with hiring practices across mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, and bioengineering disciplines; defense and government contracting recruiting norms; advanced manufacturing and robotics career pathways; and the growing demand for engineers with competencies in data, systems integration, and automation.
• Experience working with or advising students or early-career professionals in engineering or innovation-driven fields, with the ability to translate complex industry dynamics including technical interview preparation, licensure timelines, security clearance considerations, and evolving employer expectations into accessible, actionable guidance.
• Experience managing others, including regular coaching and feedback, structured professional development, performance management, and engagement support that cultivates a high-performing, student-centered advising practice.
• Proficiency with career management platforms (e.g., Handshake), labor market intelligence tools (e.g., Lightcast, LinkedIn Talent Insights), and AI-enabled career development tools; familiarity with engineering-specific job platforms (e.g., EngineeringJobs, Dice, or defense/government hiring portals) is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain employer relationships with engineering firms, manufacturers, defense contractors, energy companies, and innovation-driven enterprises, and convert those relationships into co-op, internship, and full-time hiring opportunities for students.
• Data fluency: ability to interpret employment outcome data, labor market trends, and program metrics to evaluate effectiveness and inform programming decisions.
• Strong presentation, coaching, and interpersonal skills; ability to engage effectively with students across a wide range of engineering disciplines, experience levels, and career readiness stages.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Sector-Specialized Career Advising & Student Coaching
• Sector Programming Design & Delivery
• Employer Engagement & Full-Time Hiring Pipeline
• Labor Market Intelligence & Data-Informed Practice
• Cross-Campus Collaboration & Sector Representation