Senior Project Engineer and Technology, Research & Development
Job Description
This position will act as the technical leader for new product development and delivery of the new products to market. The role will involve project management of all assigned projects and coordination of internal and external technology development. This position will involve significant collaboration with Marketing, Product Engineering, and external technology sources, to ensure that the team’s project portfolio fully supports business strategy, timeline, and financial requirements. This position will be responsible to co-lead a cross-functional team to execute those projects.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Project Management: Manage a portfolio of concurrent new product development projects (typically 6-8 Major and 8-10 Minor projects simultaneously) that will provide a competitive advantage and drive sales growth. Develop project schedules and budgets and ensure that they are being met.
• Technology Development: Coordinate internal technology efforts and manage external relationships to develop and deliver technology that will support the strategic vision of new product development and meet business needs.
• Portfolio Management: Collaborate with the Marketing Product Manager to ensure that the team’s projects fully support company strategy, meet budget goals, and drive sales growth.
• Team Leadership: Lead a cross-functional team including representatives from Industrial design, product engineering, sourcing, quality, packaging, finance, and manufacturing to deliver project quality, schedule, and cost goals.
• New Product Development: Develop and apply knowledge of competition in the product category and of materials and technologies used in related industries. Ensure that new products meet customer and consumer requirements and are competitive in the marketplace. Drive innovation and functionality in new products.
• Support of Current Products: Identify cost savings and productivity opportunities in existing product lines in the product category. Work with marketing, consumer research, operations, sourcing, and suppliers to ensure that cost savings are feasible and that they do not negatively impact market perception or product performance.
Job Requirements
• Applicants must have a track record of leading cross-functional teams to execute technical projects. Previous experience managing direct reports is desired.
• This position requires a Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s degree preferred) in Engineering or Science with ten (10) or more years combined experience in both product engineering/new product development and technology development.
• Experience with open innovation is strongly desired.
• Must be able to travel domestically and internationally.
• Strong statistical analysis skills desired (Six-Sigma certification a plus).
• Experience working directly with Asian manufacturing sources is strongly desired.
• Must have excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills and be computer literate with Microsoft Office and Windows applications. Expertise with Microsoft Project and SharePoint strongly desired.
• Experience with intellectual property and the patent process are strongly desired.
• Experience with Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0 and Windchill is beneficial.
• A background in metal forming of aluminum or stainless steel is beneficial but not required.
• Interest in culinary / gourmet areas desirable.
