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Sr. Engineer Manager of Product Design

XL Specialized Trailers Manchester, IA

Manchester, IA

Today

Full time Manager Design Design Engineering

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Job Description

Based in Manchester, Iowa, XL Specialized Trailers designs and builds heavy haul platforms that demand durability and precision. The Sr. Engineer Manager of Product Design will lead the product design team to ensure each trailer platform is manufacturable, cost-efficient, and effectively supported through production, warranty, and service. This role combines hands-on leadership with cross-functional collaboration to translate field feedback into robust, scalable design decisions.

Position Summary

The Sr. Engineer Manager of Product Design leads a team that manages a defined portion of XL’s standard product offerings to support the production schedule. The role emphasizes ownership, standardization, continuous improvement, and lifecycle support of existing trailer platforms, ensuring designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, compliant, and scalable. It collaborates with other senior engineering managers who lead sub-teams within the department to keep efforts aligned.

Responsibilities

Oversee and develop the design engineering team responsible for current production and in-market products
Own the architectural direction, standards, and design intent for the heavy-haul trailer family
Prioritize workloads based on production needs, product improvements, cost-reduction goals, and field input
Act as the engineering owner for sustaining engineering, product changes, and platform evolution for existing products
Provide engineering support to manufacturing with rapid resolution of design, quality, and manufacturability issues
Enhance weldment, fabrication, and assembly methods
Improve BOM accuracy, drawings, and release quality
Lead and participate in formal design reviews and authorize engineering changes
Manage ECN/ECO execution to ensure timely, precise, well-documented product changes
Ensure compliance with FMVSS, DOT, and internal engineering and quality standards
Leverage DFMEA, warranty data, lessons learned, and field feedback to boost durability, safety, and reliability
Champion design-for-manufacturing, design-to-cost, and continuous-improvement initiatives
Support Sales, Service, and Operations with clear engineering guidance and technical explanations
Maintain and improve engineering documentation, databases, and design tools
Assist in developing and deploying standard, pre-engineered offerings to reduce custom engineering workload and improve scheduling

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
Experience with heavy haul trailers, heavy equipment, or fabricated mobile equipment
Strong background in mechanical systems, structures, hydraulics, and manufacturing processes
Proven experience supporting products in production environments

Technologies

CAD tools
Excel
Engineering data systems

Leadership and Collaboration

Foster a culture of accountability, practical engineering judgment, and continuous improvement
Mentor engineers in technical skills, standards, and problem-solving approaches
Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and Service

Key Competencies

Practical, hands-on engineering judgment
Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis abilities
Excellent written and verbal communication
Ability to balance cost, performance, manufacturability, and reliability
Proficiency with CAD tools, Excel, and engineering data systems

Work Environment

Combination of office and shop-floor support
Primarily on-site with limited travel as needed

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