Head of Product Development

Coolamon Holdings; Coolamon; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Coolamon Holdings, an Australian manufacturer, seeks a Mechanical Engineering leader to own end-to-end product development from concept through to production. You will drive strategy, oversee prototypes, testing and field programs, and align with Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement and Service to deliver farmer-focused solutions.

You will lead teams, manage budgets and roadmaps, ensure compliance with Australian Standards, and optimise costs through value engineering.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership of engineering or product teams.
• Strong command of CAD systems and documentation processes.
• Experience in agricultural machinery or heavy manufacturing product development.

Responsibilities

• Setting and driving product development strategy in line with business goals.
• Leading products through their full lifecycle from concept to release.
• Turning farmer and dealer feedback into real product improvements.
• Ensuring designs meet Australian Standards and safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership experience

CAD systems

Lifecycle management

Commercial acumen

Communication

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Reporting to the General Manager and leading a team of engineers and designers, you'll own the end-to-end product development strategy - from market insight and concept design through to prototyping, testing, validation and production release. This is a genuine leadership opportunity to shape the future of the product range, working closely with Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement and Service to deliver commercially successful, farmer-focused solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Setting and driving product development strategy in line with business goals
• Leading products through their full lifecycle - concept, prototyping, testing, validation, release
• Turning farmer and dealer feedback into real product improvements and new concepts
• Ensuring every design meets Australian Standards, safety regulations and engineering best practice
• Overseeing CAD design, engineering documentation, BOMs and change management
• Driving cost optimisation through value engineering and design-for-manufacture
• Managing prototype builds and field testing programs
• Continuously improving existing products for reliability, durability and performance
• Owning product roadmaps and project timelines
• Managing the engineering budget and resourcing

About you

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• Demonstrated experience in agricultural machinery or heavy manufacturing product development
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering or product teams
• Strong command of CAD systems and engineering documentation processes
• Solid project and product lifecycle management experience
• Commercial acumen - you understand cost structures and margins
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

About us

Coolamon is a proud, family-owned Australian manufacturer known for building strong, reliable machinery that farmers depend on. We're a supportive, family-owned business that genuinely invests in our people and our products.