Director of Research, Development & Product Innovation

Union Tank Car Company - UTLX; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 159,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement program

Day 1 medical, dental, vision

Company-paid life insurance

401k with company match

Vacation

Job summary

Union Tank Car Company - UTLX, part of Marmon Holdings, seeks a Director of Research, Development and Product Innovation to provide strategic leadership across R&D and product engineering for railcars and service equipment.

The role drives innovation, evaluates emerging technologies, and develops a roadmap to improve performance, safety, and lifecycle value while partnering with manufacturing and operations to deliver customer value. 50% travel anticipated in a senior leadership capacity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Mechanical preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive engineering experience including product development and testing.
• Demonstrated leadership of engineering/R&D teams; ability to drive cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D, product engineering, and innovation strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Drive development and commercialization of railcars, components, and service equipment.
• Establish an innovation roadmap responding to market trends and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor engineering teams and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets, resources, and portfolio prioritization for impact and timelines.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Repair, Leasing, Sales, and Operations to improve product performance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Regulatory knowledge

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Advanced degree (Engineering/Management)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

UTLX

As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.

The Director of Research, Development and Product Innovation provides strategic leadership for the R&D and product engineering functions across Union Tank Car Company, Procor, and McKenzie Valve. This role is responsible for driving innovation, leading the development of new products, technologies, materials, and processes, and advancing engineering solutions that support business growth, customer needs, and industry leadership.

As a senior engineering leader, the Director collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify market opportunities, enhance product performance, improve operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards. The role leads and develops engineering talent while fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

The Director serves as a catalyst for innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, driving strategic R&D initiatives, and transforming ideas into practical solutions that deliver value to customers and strengthen the organization's competitive position in the rail industry.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and develop R&D, product engineering, and innovation strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead the strategic direction of Research & Development, product engineering, and innovation initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, customer needs, and long-term business growth.
• Drive the development, enhancement, and commercialization of railcars, components, and service equipment solutions that improve performance, reliability, safety, and customer value.
• Establish and execute a forward-looking innovation roadmap that anticipates market trends, emerging technologies, and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies, materials, manufacturing methods, and digital solutions that strengthen competitive advantage and operational excellence.
• Inspire a culture of innovation by fostering creative problem-solving, encouraging new ideas, and promoting continuous learning and technical excellence across engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Lead the research, testing, validation, and implementation of innovative concepts, ensuring successful transition from development through commercialization and operational deployment.
• Prioritize and manage a portfolio of engineering, product development, and innovation projects, balancing strategic objectives, resource allocation, risk, timelines, and business impact.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Repair, Leasing, Sales, Operations, and other stakeholders to improve product performance, manufacturability, repairability, reliability, and lifecycle value.
• Serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, providing mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities for engineering team members.
• Monitor market dynamics, customer feedback, industry developments, and competitive activity to identify opportunities for product differentiation and business growth.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with customers, suppliers, industry organizations, universities, and technical experts to advance research, innovation, and technology adoption.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, engineering best practices, and company quality and safety expectations.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resources, workforce planning, and organizational capabilities to support current and future business needs.
• Champion quality, safety, Responsible Care, and continuous improvement initiatives while driving a high-performance culture focused on innovation, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Act as a visionary leader who challenges conventional thinking, identifies breakthrough opportunities, and drives transformative solutions that position the organization as an industry leader in engineering and innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive engineering experience, including product development, mechanical design, research, testing, and implementation.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing engineering, technical, or R&D teams.
• Proven ability to drive innovation, solve complex technical challenges, and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% based on business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or Business Administration.
• Experience in rail, tank car manufacturing, repair operations, or other regulated industrial environments.
• Strong knowledge of US-DOT, Transport Canada, AAR, FRA, and related industry regulations and standards.
• Experience leading innovation initiatives, technology roadmaps, and new product development programs.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant professional certifications.
• Experience implementing quality, safety, and continuous improvement programs.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Hybrid work schedule with a minimum of two days per week onsite and up to three days remote, subject to business needs.
• Regular travel to manufacturing, repair, customer, and operational locations.
• Work is performed in both office and industrial environments, including railcar manufacturing and repair facilities.
• Occasional work outside normal business hours may be required to support projects, travel, and business priorities.
• Must be able to safely navigate industrial environments, including heights and confined spaces when necessary.

Disclaimer

Please note the duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Why Join Our Team?

• Tuition reimbursement program
• Day 1 Medical, dental, vision
• Company-paid employee and dependent life insurance
• Company-paid sickness and accident income
• 401k with a generous company match
• Holiday pay
• Vacation
• Marmon employee discount program

Pay Range

159,300.00 - 194,700.00

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, and more!

Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to [e-mail], and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.