The Senior Manager, Design Engineering is a hands-on leadership role responsible for leading a team of approximately 5–6 design engineers while remaining actively involved in product design, development, and technical problem-solving. The position oversees engineering activities from initial concept through commercialization, with a focus on developing innovative, cost-effective, reliable, and manufacturable building products. This role works closely with manufacturing, quality, suppliers, sales, customers, and executive leadership to ensure engineering solutions align with business objectives, customer requirements, quality standards, and regulatory expectations. The Senior Manager also provides strategic and technical guidance to executive leadership, supporting product innovation, cost optimization, operational efficiency, and long-term business growth.
Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 5–6 design engineers.
- Establish team objectives, performance expectations, and individual development plans.
- Promote a culture focused on accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Provide technical direction and day-to-day support while maintaining a strategic perspective.
- Balance people leadership with active involvement in engineering and design activities.
Hands-On Engineering
- Personally contribute to engineering design, 3D modeling, technical analysis, and problem-solving.
- Lead complex engineering initiatives and act as a senior technical resource for the team.
- Review and approve engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and technical documentation.
- Participate directly in prototyping, product testing, validation, and design optimization.
Product Design & Development
- Lead and oversee product development activities from concept and design through launch and commercialization.
- Ensure products satisfy performance, cost, manufacturability, reliability, scalability, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Apply design-for-manufacturing principles to improve production efficiency and product quality.
- Facilitate design reviews, FMEA activities, engineering changes, and continuous product improvements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with manufacturing teams to support efficient production, process improvements, and successful product launches.
- Collaborate with quality teams to maintain product standards and address technical or quality concerns.
- Work with suppliers on materials, components, technical requirements, and process enhancements.
- Engage with sales and customers to understand market requirements and develop appropriate engineering solutions.
- Serve as a key connection between engineering, operations, commercial teams, and other business functions.
Strategic & Executive Support
- Provide regular updates to executive leadership regarding engineering priorities, progress, risks, opportunities, and technical challenges.
- Contribute to broader business strategy through product innovation, cost reduction, and responsiveness to market demands.
- Provide data-driven technical analysis and recommendations to support business and investment decisions.
Project & Resource Management
- Manage multiple engineering and product development projects simultaneously while maintaining hands-on technical involvement.
- Prioritize and allocate engineering resources based on business needs and project requirements.
- Ensure projects meet established timelines, budgets, and performance objectives.
- Monitor key performance indicators, including development schedules, cost improvements, product performance, and project outcomes.
Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure products and engineering processes comply with applicable industry standards, building codes, and quality requirements.
- Support product certification activities and maintain accurate technical and engineering documentation.
- Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions related to product or manufacturing issues.
- Identify opportunities to improve product performance, engineering processes, cost efficiency, and overall operational effectiveness.
Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Master’s degree in an engineering or related technical field is considered an asset.
Professional Experience
- 8–10+ years of progressive design engineering experience within a manufacturing environment; experience with building products or materials is preferred.
- 3–5+ years of experience leading engineering teams in a hands-on working-manager, player-coach, or similar leadership capacity.
- Demonstrated experience managing engineers while remaining actively involved in technical design and problem-solving.
- Experience with SolidWorks or a related program.
- Proven track record of taking products from initial concept through development, validation, and commercial launch.
- Strong understanding of product design, manufacturing processes, design-for-manufacturability, quality, and engineering change processes.
- Experience working cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, suppliers, sales, customers, and executive stakeholders.