R&D Manager

ITW Construction Products - Asia Pacific; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

ITW Construction Products Asia Pacific is seeking an R&D Manager to lead a small team and drive new product development, technical excellence and regulatory compliance across building products, fasteners and hardware solutions.

You will collaborate with Product Management, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Manufacturing to translate market insights into innovative solutions, while maintaining high standards of quality and performance.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience in building products, construction materials, hardware or manufacturing.
• Experience leading engineering, technical, quality or R&D teams.
• Experience delivering new product development and consumer-led design.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development from concept to design, testing, validation and commercialisation.
• Translate market and customer insights into product improvements and technical solutions.
• Develop and manage product specifications, technical data, compliance programs, quality systems and packaging requirements across the portfolio.
• Lead, coach and develop a small technical and quality team while maintaining a hands-on approach to problem solving and delivery.
• Provide technical and quality expertise to Sales, Product Management, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Manufacturing.
• Partner with key customers to understand requirements and deliver products that meet their technical, quality and commercial expectations.
• Drive value engineering, sustainability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and manage product, quality and compliance risks, ensuring appropriate controls and standards are maintained.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Influencing

R&D leadership

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Job description

R&D Manager - Shape Innovation, Quality & Technical Excellence

Join our Building Solutions Division as R&D Manager and play a key leadership role in shaping the future of our product portfolio.

Leading a small, high-performing team, you’ll be responsible for driving new product development, technical excellence, quality performance and regulatory compliance across a portfolio of market-leading building products, fasteners and hardware solutions.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role where you’ll work closely with Product Management, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and major customers, including Bunnings and Mitre 10, to bring innovative products to market and ensure they consistently meet the highest standards of quality, performance and compliance.

What You’ll Do

• Lead new product development, from concept and technical assessment through to design, testing, engineering, validation and commercialisation.
• Translate market and customer insights into product improvements, innovation and technical solutions.
• Develop and manage product specifications, technical data, compliance programs, quality systems and packaging requirements across the portfolio.
• Lead, coach and develop a small technical and quality team while maintaining a hands-on approach to problem solving and delivery.
• Provide technical and quality expertise to Sales, Product Management, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Manufacturing.
• Partner with key customers to understand requirements and deliver products that meet their technical, quality and commercial expectations.
• Drive value engineering, sustainability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and manage product, quality and compliance risks, ensuring appropriate controls and standards are maintained.

What You’ll Bring

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Experience in similar role in building products, construction materials and supplies, hardware or manufacturing.
• Experience leading engineering, technical, quality or R&D teams.
• Experience in successfully delivering new product development and a demonstrated understanding of consumer-led design.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive salary package, performance-based incentive plan, car allowance and career development opportunities; hybrid working
• High levels of ownership, autonomy and visibility across the business
• Supportive, entrepreneurial culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement
• A culture that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion, with access to flexible working options, employee resource groups and community volunteering.

To apply, you must be based in Australia and hold full working rights.

About ITW

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industry manufacturing leader with approximately 43,000 employees worldwide and revenue of $16 billion in 2025.

ITW Construction Asia Pacific is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

ITW Construction Products Asia Pacific is proud to be endorsed as an employer for all women by WORK180.