Design Engineering Manager

Socket.dev; Macedonia (OH); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

TPC Wire & Cable Corp. is seeking a Design Engineering Manager in a hybrid role based in the United States.

You will lead the Design Engineering team, setting direction for connectorized product development, manufacturability, and reliability while partnering with Product Management, Operations, Sourcing and Quality to deliver high-quality products on schedule. The role requires 8+ years in engineering with leadership experience, CAD/CAM skills, and familiarity with PLM/ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (advanced degree preferred)
• 8+ years of progressive engineering design experience
• Experience leading design projects from concept to launch in manufacturing
• Strong organizational, project management and technical writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with diverse audiences
• Proficiency with 2D/3D CAD/CAM tools; familiarity with PDM/PLM and ERP systems
• Willingness to travel to supplier and customer sites

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and day-to-day management for the Design Engineering team
• Set technical direction, design standards, and best practices for new product development and sustaining engineering
• Oversee design and development of connectorized products with focus on cost, quality, schedule targets
• Coordinate with Product Management to translate market needs into engineering priorities
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Sourcing, Operations, Quality, and Suppliers to optimize designs
• Ensure deliverables include drawings, specs, test plans, risk analyses, and compliance documentation
• Approve or review cost estimates, design concepts, and technical proposals
• Champion continuous improvement in engineering processes, tools, and workflows
• Support dual-sourcing and value-engineering initiatives
• Partner with Application Engineering and Quality to develop fixtures and validation plans
• Escalate complex technical issues and guide timely resolutions
• Plan and prioritize engineering portfolio, allocate resources, report status to leadership
• Conduct coaching and performance reviews for engineers
• Support supplier and customer site visits for design reviews and launches
• Maintain expert knowledge in materials, connector technology, and manufacturing techniques

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD/CAM tools

PDM/PLM

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

Description

The Design Engineering Manager leads the design, implementation, and analysis of technical products and systems, with a focus on connectorized solutions, manufacturability, and reliability. This role owns the performance and development of the Design Engineering team and partners closely with Product Management, Application Engineering, Operations, and Sourcing to deliver profitable, high-quality products to market.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and day-to-day management for the Design Engineering team, including Design Engineer I–III roles.
• Set technical direction, design standards, and best practices for new product development and sustaining engineering activities.
• Oversee the design and development of products with a focus on connectorized solutions, production capabilities, and supporting infrastructure, ensuring projects meet cost, quality, and schedule targets.
• Coordinate engineering efforts with Product Management to translate market analysis, customer needs, and competitive insights into clear product requirements and engineering priorities.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Sourcing, Operations, Quality, and Suppliers to optimize designs for manufacturability, cost, compliance, and supply-chain robustness.
• Ensure engineering deliverables are complete and accurate, including drawings, models, product specifications, test plans, risk analyses, and documentation for compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Approve or review cost estimates, design concepts, and technical proposals for key projects, providing guidance on tradeoffs and risk mitigation.
• Champion continuous improvement in engineering processes, tools, and workflows (design reviews, DFMEA, design standards, CAD libraries, documentation, and change control).
• Support dual-sourcing and value-engineering initiatives by evaluating alternate materials, components, and suppliers and guiding the team through required design changes.
• Partner with Application Engineering and Quality to develop fixtures, test methods, and validation plans to confirm performance and reliability of products.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex technical issues and customer inquiries, guiding the team toward timely and effective resolutions.
• Plan and prioritize the engineering portfolio, allocate resources, and report project status, risks, and mitigations to leadership.
• Conduct regular coaching, performance reviews, and development planning for engineers; identify skill gaps and training needs.
• Support visits to supplier and customer sites as needed for design reviews, qualification builds, production launches, and issue resolution.
• Maintain an expert level of knowledge in materials, connector technology, manufacturing techniques, and industry best practices, and ensure this knowledge is shared across the team.

Key Competencies

• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to?inspire?and develop high-performing engineering teams.
• Excellent collaborator and relationship builder with internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers.
• Deep technical knowledge of mechanical/electrical design for connectorized solutions and related manufacturing processes.
• Strategic and critical thinker with the ability to balance technical rigor, speed, and business impact.
• Proven problem-solving skills and data-driven decision making.
• Strong ownership mentality and drive for results in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of technical and professional expertise combined with clear, concise communication skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and effectively manage conflict and tradeoffs.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required; advanced degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of progressive engineering experience in product design, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or people-management role.
• Demonstrated experience leading design projects from concept through launch in a manufacturing environment, preferably in connectors, cable assemblies, or related products.
• Strong organizational, project management, and technical writing skills, including experience with project planning and status reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with experience presenting technical content to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with 2D and 3D CAD/CAM tools and familiarity with PDM/PLM and ERP systems.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and common collaboration tools.
• Willingness to travel to supplier and customer sites as needed.

Working Conditions

• Full-time position with standard office hours.?
• Flexibility may be?required?to support business needs?
• This position is eligible for Hybrid work?

TPC Wire & Cable Corp. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.