Principal R&D Project Engineer

Job Title: Principal R&D Project Engineer 

Location: Simpsonville, SC

Reports To: R&D Engineering Manager

Employment Type: Full-time

Seniority Level: Senior Level

Industry: Manufacturing | Mechanical Power Transmission Components | Engineering Services

Job Function: Engineering | Research & Development

Job Summary: The Principal R&D Engineer will act as a principal engineer for the team to drive improved decision-making skills and advanced educational development for team members. This individual will lead major multi-phase R&D projects and teach less skilled colleagues to improve overall R&D team performance. The role maintains awareness of state-of-the-art technology, as well as Dodge products and technologies, and identifies and understands technical drivers for R&D projects. The Principal R&D Engineer understands what creates customer value in own R&D projects and project portfolio, works to improve operations, increase customer satisfaction, and provides consulting services to business operations and customers.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Excellence

• Act as a senior engineer for the team to drive improved decision-making skills and advanced educational development for team members.
• Act as the technology leader for large multi-phase new product development projects that require advanced R&D and project management skills.
• Innovate and implement industry-leading technologies to solve identified challenges within a problem statement that can be incorporated into assigned products and/or processes.
• Demonstrate sound fundamental technical proficiency in own competence area.
• Emphasis on critical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem solving.

Innovation & Creativity

• Lead the peer team in creating new and innovative solutions that exceed the performance of current technologies.
• Demonstrate an entrepreneurial innovative spirit to R&D projects with own unique and creative ideas.
• Propose follow-up projects and activities within own technical area based on new ideas.

Projects, Processes & Tools

• Demonstrate sound understanding of, and actively apply, R&D processes and tools.
• Examples include sound communication capabilities, advanced project management processes, use of 2D and 3D CAD tools, advanced understanding of FEA, and awareness of industry standards applicable to area of expertise.

Knowledge Transfer

• Actively teach own technical/scientific knowledge to less skilled colleagues in applying processes and tools to ensure timely and high-quality results.
• Show solid documentation skills and write technical reports independently.

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Proactively seek to identify opportunities for new or advanced technologies that could be used for product enhancements or new product needs based on problem definition and project scopes.
• Initiate business review of new technology ideas with business team members.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or relevant field (M.S. Preferred).
• 20+ years of Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical experience.
• Relevant product-related experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office and 3D/2D drafting and modeling software.
• Strong analytical skills with an emphasis on advanced technology, critical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem solving.
• Extreme attention to detail with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility.
• Ability to adapt and multi-task based on departmental needs; collaborates well with others and is a good team player.
• General understanding of basic project management skills.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with passion for new and changing ideas.
• Proven history of innovation and creativity.
• History of contribution, leadership, and influence in relevant national and/or international trade/industry associations.
• Lean Green Belt preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Extended periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk or computer workstation.
• 5-10% travel to meet with clients or attend meetings (overnight travel as needed).
• Ability to type, reach, and grasp.
• Able to carry, lift, and pull up to 50 lbs.
• Reach, climb, crawl, walk.
• Speak and present in person or virtually to individuals and small groups.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop new technologies to be used to solve advanced technical challenges within area of responsibility.
• Generate state-of-the-art processes or design concepts that can be incorporated into products and/or processes within area of responsibility.
• Provide leadership for successful project results in technology and/or product development by identifying, proposing, and implementing innovative solutions.
• Create tools that can improve efficiency throughout the product design process.
• Ensure all testing is validated and recorded.
• Work directly with engineers to ensure accuracy and logic of product development projects.
• Create new part numbers and establish/maintain BOMs.
• Identify and communicate industry trends and demands to business team.
• Lead and support cost reduction activities.
• Use advanced project management skills to lead large projects.
• Apply LEAN tools to create standardized test procedures and design standards.
• Actively and routinely oversee, observe, and/or assist with product testing, post-test teardowns, and test reports.
• Use unique technical knowledge to oversee development tasks and actively teach own technical/scientific knowledge to less skilled colleagues.
• Attendance at work is an essential function of the job.

Why Join Us?

• Work alongside a collaborative, experienced leadership team.
• Be part of an industry leader with a strong brand reputation and an innovation-driven culture.