Sr. Engineer Manager of Product Design

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