Manager of Product Design Engineering

The Product Design Engineering Manager leads a team of product design engineers focused on sustaining and improving production and in-market product offerings. This role emphasizes product architecture ownership, engineering change leadership, and ensuring designs remain manufacturable, cost-effective, compliant, and scalable.

Role Overview

You will oversee engineering execution for sustaining engineering, product changes, and platform evolution (non-NPD). The position includes prioritizing engineering work based on production needs, product improvement goals, cost-reduction initiatives, and field feedback. Collaboration is central, with frequent on-site engagement in Waterloo, Iowa to support issues across design, quality, and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of product design engineers supporting production and in-market products.
• Own product architectures, standards, and design intent across heavy haul trailer platforms.
• Prioritize and assign engineering work based on production needs, product improvements, cost-reduction initiatives, and field feedback.
• Act as engineering owner for sustaining engineering, product changes, and platform evolution (non-NPD).
• Provide engineering support for production, including rapid resolution of design, quality, and manufacturability issues.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Production to improve weldment, fabrication, and assembly methods.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Production to improve BOM accuracy, drawings, and release quality.
• Lead and participate in structured design reviews and approve engineering changes.
• Oversee ECN/ECO execution to ensure changes are timely, accurate, and well documented.
• Ensure compliance with FMVSS, DOT, and internal engineering and quality standards.
• Apply DFMEA, lessons learned, warranty data, and field feedback to improve durability, safety, and reliability.
• Drive 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 with development and implementation of standard, pre-engineered product offerings to reduce custom engineering resource demands and improve schedule execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in 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.
• Practical, hands-on engineering judgment.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to balance cost, performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Proficiency with CAD tools, Excel, and engineering data systems.

Technologies

• CAD tools
• Excel
• ECN/ECO
• DFMEA

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $80,000 to $90,000 per year
• Bonus: 15% bonus

Location

Waterloo, IA (onsite)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.