Director of Product Development

HellermannTyton; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

HellermannTyton is seeking a Director of Product Development Engineering in Milwaukee, WI, reporting to the VP of Engineering. You will oversee automotive and general market product development, validation & reliability testing, and application tool engineering.

You’ll drive strategy, innovation, and lean product development while ensuring certifications and alignment with corporate initiatives. The role focuses on concepts through design, supporting the entire lifecycle from concept to

Qualifications

• BSME degree or equivalent required.
• MS degree preferred in plastics, manufacturing/injection molding, or management.
• 12-15 years’ experience in injection molded plastics.
• Excellent working knowledge of injection molding process and tooling.
• Excellent Microsoft Office / Windows computer skills.
• Working knowledge of ERP-PLM integration.
• Able to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage and Lead Engineering: direct department personnel toward objectives and continuous improvement.
• Strategy Planning/Strategic Vision: develop department strategy and manage goals.
• Innovation: advance patent/IP and innovative product portfolio.
• Evaluate and recommend department structure and resources.
• Coordinate with other departments and ensure engineering processes integrate.
• Deliver on time: ensure product development deliverables are on schedule.
• New materials: collaborate with material engineers to incorporate new materials.
• Training and Coaching: provide training to co-workers, sales, and customers.
• Lean Product Development / Design for Six Sigma: apply lean methods.
• Global Engineering: coordinate with sister companies.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Product development

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean product development

AI/LLMs adoption

Education

BSME degree or equivalent

MS degree preferred (plastics/manufacturing/injection molding/management)

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Catia

Job description

Job Summary

Under the direction of theVP of Engineering, the Director of Product Development Engineering is responsible for overseeing the Product Development Engineering departments, including automotive and general market product development engineering, Validation & Reliability Testing, and Application Tool Engineering.

While this position’s contributions focus on product development from product concepts through the design phase, this person will support systems and processes from the earliest stages of innovation and product concept through end-of-life. This position ensures HellermannTyton remains a leader in wire and cable management. This will be achieved while maintaining HellermannTyton's certifications and supporting all corporate initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Manage and Lead Engineering. Working with the VP of Engineering, direct all assigned department personnel towards company objectives and continuous improvement in speed-to-market and get-it-right-the-first-time. This includes best use of FEA, plastic flow analyses, DOEs, alignment with APQP, etc.
• Strategy Planning/Strategic Vision. Working with the VP of Engineering, develop department strategy plans and manage goals and objectives aimed at achieving the plans. This includes bringing an understanding of customer and market needs and trends to these activities. This includes capital expenditure and headcount planning.
• Innovation. Working in all phases of product development to advance our patent/IP and innovative product portfolio.
• Evaluate and recommend department structure and resources. Work with department resource managers and recommend personnel additions, organizational improvement, resource additions like software, hardware, and equipment, succession planning, defining and supporting subject matter expert roles, etc. This also includes use of A.I., LLMs, etc.
• Coordinate with other departments. Engineering plays a supporting role across many departments. Develop and maintain relationships with other department personnel, and ensure engineering processes are properly integrated with the rest of the organization. This includes information flow from our PLM/PDM system to and from other systems.
• Deliver on time. Work with other departments to ensure product development deliverables are delivered on time. This includes ensuring inputs and outputs are good, and our systems and processes support efficient and effective work.
• New materials. Work with material engineers to incorporate new or improved materials.

Other Functions

• Training and Coaching. Provide training to co-workers, sales, and customers in areas of expertise to expand knowledge base and reinforce the HellermannTyton brand. Within the department, support individual development plans by ensuring everyone who wants one has one.
• Department Meetings. Play a leading role in contributing to regular department meetings, including creating content that supports our strategies and objectives.
• Audit Representation. Participate in any and all audits where product development representation is required. Ensure opportunities for improvement and findings, if any, are addressed.
• Performance Management. Conduct performance evaluations for direct reports. Support performance evaluations for all department personnel.
• Lean Product Development / Design for Six Sigma. Ensure we make the best use of product development methods to support our goals and objectives.
• Global Engineering. Work with counterparts at sister companies to coordinate and align product development activities where needed.

Qualifications (skills, knowledge, experience)

• BSME degree or equivalent.
• MS degree preferred in plastics, manufacturing/ injection molding, or management
• 12-15 years’ experience in injection molded plastics
• Excellent working knowledge of injection molding process and tooling required.
• Excellent working knowledge of injection molding materials.
• Excellent Microsoft Office / Windows computer skills
• Working knowledge of ERP-PLM integration.
• Exceptional mechanical engineering, design/development, and innovation aptitude
• Basic skills in CAD, preferably SolidWorks, NX, or Catia CAD platforms
• Great leadership and team collaboration skills
• Lean product development / Design for Six Sigma experience preferred
• Able to travel internationally
• Must have a valid driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and adequate insurance