Engineering Design Assurance Manager

Daikin-Applied; Plymouth (MN); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401K retirement plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Daikin Applied in Plymouth, MN seeks an Engineering Design Assurance Manager to lead the DA function from concept through launch, owning design risk, requirements quality, design robustness, and validation readiness.

You will partner with Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to align risk and performance expectations, drive structured design reviews, and ensure manufacturability. This hybrid role emphasizes shaping design decisions and preventing failures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline.
• Strong DFMEA and system-level risk analysis knowledge.
• Ability to drive risk-based decision-making and traceability.

Responsibilities

• Lead DFMEA quality across programs and ensure design robustness.
• Drive requirements clarity, testability, and traceability from concept to launch.
• Own validation strategy, DVP&R coverage, and evidence of performance.

Skills

DFMEA

Requirements management

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Design verification

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

PFMEA

Control Plans

DFMEA tools

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!Engineering Design Assurance Manager – Plymouth, MN - HybridDaikin Applied is seeking an Engineering Design Assurance Manager who will lead the Design Assurance (DA) function to ensure product quality is designed into products from concept through launch. The Manager will own design risk identification, assessment, and reduction by driving requirements quality, design robustness, validation effectiveness, and readiness for manufacturing. They will act as an embedded engineering partner to influence design decisions and ensure products meet performance, reliability, and compliance expectations at launch—not by inspection, but by shaping the design itself.Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!Location: Hybrid - Plymouth, MNYour Responsibilities:Compliance (Gate Discipline) – Enable Quality DecisionsDrive execution of NPI gate processes (DDR, ORR, BCRR) to ensure decisions are based on objective evidenceEnsure deliverables are complete, accurate, and reflect true risk status—not checklist complianceSurface risks, gaps, and mitigation plans to support informed go/no-go decisionsAct as a decision support partner for quality readiness, not a downstream gate inspectorRequirements Quality (Upstream Alignment) – Own “What Good Looks Like”Own requirements quality across programs, ensuring clarity, completeness, testability, and traceabilityEstablish and enforce linkage between customer needs, system requirements, and engineering specificationsImplement closed-loop feedback mechanisms (e.g., HQR) from validation, manufacturing, and field performance into requirementsEnsure requirements are fully integrated into DFMEA and validation planningDesign Robustness (Engineering Design Quality) – Own Design RiskOwn DFMEA quality, completeness, and effectiveness across all programsEnsure system understanding through boundary diagrams, interface analysis, and functional compositionLead identification, prioritization, and mitigation of design risks before design freezeChallenge assumptions, failure modes, and engineering trade-offs to improve robustnessDrive use of modeling, simulation, and analytical methods to reduce risk early in developmentValidation Effectiveness (Prove It Works) – Own Evidence of PerformanceOwn validation strategy and ensure alignment to requirements and identified risksEnsure DVP&R provides adequate coverage of critical requirements, use conditions, and failure modesEvaluate validation results to confirm product performance, reliability, and safetyDrive closure of validation gaps prior to key decision pointsEnsure validation demonstrates real-world use conditions, not just lab complianceManufacturing Readiness (Execution Risk) – Ensure Design Transfers CleanlyEnsure alignment between design intent and manufacturing controls (PFMEA, Control Plans)Partner with Operations and Quality to confirm critical risks are mitigated prior to launchSupport pilot builds, ECS/MCS, and Safe Launch activities to validate production readinessEnsure learning from manufacturing and field issues is driven back into design and requirementsCross-Functional LeadershipEmbed within engineering teams to influence design decisions from concept through launchPartner with Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to align on risk and performance expectationsDrive accountability for design quality across teams—not centralized within Design AssuranceLead structured, risk-based discussions in design and readiness reviewsMetrics & Continuous ImprovementDefine and manage leading indicators tied to:Requirements qualityDFMEA effectiveness (risk identification and closure)Validation coverage and gap closureLaunch readiness riskUse data to proactively identify design risks and drive early corrective actionsContinuously improve Design Assurance methods, tools, and integration into NPI processesYour Qualifications:Bachelor’ s Degree in Engineering, or a related technical discipline6+ years of experience in product development, design engineering, or design assurance roles4+ years leading teams or enterprise-level initiativesDesign & Risk OwnershipDeep expertise in DFMEA, system-level risk analysis, and failure mode identificationAbility to drive risk-based decision-making and ensure risks are actively reduced—not just documentedStrong understanding of system architecture, interfaces, and failure mechanismsRequirements & Systems ThinkingExpertise in requirements definition, decomposition, and traceability (customer system component validation)Ability to assess requirements for clarity, completeness, and testabilityExperience implementing closed-loop learning systems (e.g., HQR, field feedback into requirements)Validation & Verification RigorDeep knowledge of validation strategy development and DVP&R constructionAbility to assess test coverage relative to requirements and identified risksExperience evaluating validation results against real-world use conditionsStrong understanding of verification vs. validation and their role in design assuranceEngineering Influence & Decision-MakingDemonstrated ability to challenge engineering assumptions and influence design trade-offsSkilled in facilitating risk-based design discussions and driving accountabilityAbility to operate as a peer to engineering leaders—not an external auditorManufacturing & Product RealizationWorking knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, and production risk mitigationUnderstanding of how design decisions impact manufacturability, variability, and field performanceAbility to bridge design intent into production executionData & Analytical CapabilityStrong analytical skills to interpret data, identify patterns, and drive proactive risk reductionExperience defining and using leading indicators tied to design quality and program riskAbility to translate technical risk into clear, actionable insights for leadershipQuality Systems & StandardsStrong knowledge of design control frameworks and quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ASHRAE, UL, ASME)Understanding of how regulatory and compliance requirements translate into design constraintsLeadership & Change ManagementProven ability to drive cultural change toward designing in quality vs. inspecting itStrong cross-functional leadership and influence skills in a matrixed organizationAbility to scale consistent Design Assurance practices across multiple programsYour Benefits:Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance401K retirement plan with employer matchPaid time off and company paid holidaysPaid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local lawTuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous serviceWork visa sponsorship is not available for this positionThe typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $100,800 - $171,700 plus a 15% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which these positions fall. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.#LI-DF1If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied!