Commercial Product Development Manager

Franke Group; Midland (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Franke Group in North America seeks a Senior Product Development Engineer to lead the commercial product portfolio from concept to launch across regulated environments. You will own the roadmap and manage the full development process, guiding design, prototyping, certification, and lifecycle management.

Collaborate with engineers, specifiers, contractors, channel partners, and internal teams to deliver durable, compliant products that meet hygiene, safety, and accessibility standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline; P.Eng designation or eligibility is asset.
• Minimum 5 years in product development/engineering for manufactured products.
• Minimum 2 years leading people or cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and GD&T; working knowledge of US/Canada product certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development and innovation for the commercial portfolio in North America.
• Own the product roadmap and full development process from concept to lifecycle management.
• Collaborate with engineers, specifiers, contractors, channel partners, and internal teams to ensure durable, compliant products.

Skills

Product strategy

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

3D CAD

Project management

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

P.Eng designation

Tools

SolidWorks/Creo

PLM/PDM

ERP

Job description

About Franke

We, the Franke company with its three divisions, are a world's leading supplier of products and services for domestic kitchens, the professional foodservice systems and the convenience store sector as well as for professional coffee making. With around 60 companies, we are at home on five continents. Over 8,000 employees constantly take on new perspectives to identify opportunities and turn them into inspiring, innovative solutions for tomorrow’s demands.

The Franke Home Solutions division is the world’s leading provider of smart systems for domestic kitchens. Drawing on a long history of reliability and expertise, we help our partners enhance their businesses and provide outstanding kitchen and cooking experiences to our consumers by offering complete solutions for food preparation and cooking.

About The Job

Leads product development and innovation for the commercial product portfolio in North America. Owns the product roadmap and the full development process, from voice of customer and concept through design, prototyping, certification, launch, and lifecycle management.

Builds products that perform in demanding, regulated environments, including multi-family residential, healthcare, correctional, and education facilities, where durability, hygiene, water safety, accessibility, and security requirements shape every design decision. Serves as the technical authority for the commercial line with engineers, specifiers, contractors, channel partners, and internal teams.

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline; P.Eng. designation or eligibility is an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in product development or engineering for manufactured products, from concept through launch.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading people or cross-functional teams, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar), engineering drawing standards, and GD&T.
• Working knowledge of Canadian and US product certifications and codes.

Preferred

• Medical equipment or device industry experience, including design controls (ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR 820), risk management (ISO 14971), cleanability, infection prevention, and clinical environments.
• Experience with commercial plumbing, institutional fixtures, or building products specified by engineers and architects.
• Experience designing products for correctional, educational, or other high-abuse environments.
• Knowledge of stainless steel fabrication, casting, machining, and electronic sensor technology.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or formal stage-gate training.

Competencies

• Product Strategy and Innovation: Translates customer insights, market data, and technology trends into differentiated products and a prioritized roadmap.
• Customer and Specifier Focus: Understands how commercial products are specified, submitted, approved, and maintained in institutional facilities, considering all stakeholders.
• Regulatory and Standards Acumen: Interprets codes, standards, and regulations, integrating compliance from concept through development.
• Design and Engineering: Applies engineering principles, design techniques, and tools to develop technical plans, drawings, models, and robust, manufacturable prototypes.
• Manufacturing and Cost Management: Understands materials, production processes, quality control, and cost drivers to optimize quality and margins.
• Project and Portfolio Management: Manages concurrent projects, prioritizes work, allocates resources based on skills and capacity, and delivers on commitments.
• Leadership and Influence: Leads cross-functional teams, develops people, and drives decisions through data and clear recommendations.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Defines problems, analyzes data, establishes root causes, and draws sound conclusions using statistical analysis of test and field results.
• Communication: Prepares clear technical reports, specifications, and procedures and presents confidently to leadership, customers, engineers, and specifiers.
• Computer Skills: Proficiency in 3D CAD, PLM/PDM, ERP, Microsoft Office, and project management software.

Accessibility & Accommodation

Franke Kindred Canada is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process, as well as for employees in the workplace, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and applicable legislation.

For more information see: www.franke.com

Important information for all executive search companies, headhunters and HR consultants

The Franke Group does not accept unsolicited support from headhunters and personnel consultants for our career opportunities. Any CV/resume vitae submitted to Franke or its employees by external recruitment agencies without a valid written recruitment agreement related to the position in question shall be deemed the sole property of our company. In the event that a candidate presented by an agency is hired in our company and there is no prior agreement, no fee will be paid.