Engineering Manager, Product Development

Leer, Inc.; Leer (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Job summary

Leer, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the product development team in New Lisbon, Wisconsin.

The role oversees design, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement to meet customer requirements, standards, and cost targets while providing clear technical leadership. You will guide engineering activities from concept through launch, production support, and end-of-life, working with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Quality teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Five or more years of related product design, development, or sustaining engineering experience.
• 2-3 years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment and with configurable or custom-engineered products is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the product development process from requirements definition and feasibility through design reviews, verification, validation, production launch, and post-launch review.
• Manage and develop the product engineering team while ensuring engineering standards, compliance and regulatory standards, documentation, and customer requirements are met.
• Oversee product design, engineering changes, product improvements, and lifecycle management activities.
• Collaborate with Sales & Marketing, Operations, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, and other teams to define product requirements and deliver solutions that meet customer and business needs.
• Drive product quality, reliability, compliance, and cost improvement initiatives.
• Provide engineering support for production, suppliers, customers, and field performance issues.
• Oversee product validation, technical documentation, engineering standards, and supplier technical relationships.
• Establish engineering priorities, strategies, budgets, and performance metrics to achieve departmental objectives.
• Promote continuous improvement, employee development, and effective execution of engineering projects.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

CAD

Product development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering

Tools

CAD software

ERP/MRP

PDM

PLM systems

Job description

Leer, Inc., a leading manufacturer of commercial refrigeration solutions, is seeking a results-driven and innovative Engineering Manager to lead our engineering team in New Lisbon, Wisconsin. This key leadership role is responsible for overseeing product design, engineering operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and the development of engineering talent. The Engineering Manager lead the development, improvement, and lifecycle support of company products. This role directs product engineering activities from concept and design through launch, production support, continuous improvement, and end-of-life. The manager ensures products meet customer requirements, applicable standards, quality expectations, cost targets, and manufacturing needs while providing clear technical leadership to the product engineering team.

Why Join Leer, Inc?

Be part of a respected, employee-owned company with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success. Lead engineering initiatives that directly impact product development, operational excellence, and business growth. Work alongside a collaborative leadership team dedicated to continuous improvement and long-term success. Help shape the future of commercial refrigeration products in a culture that values ownership, accountability, and innovation.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the product development process from requirements definition and feasibility through design reviews, verification, validation, production launch, and post-launch review.
• Manage and develop the product engineering team while ensuring engineering standards, compliance and regulatory standards, documentation, and customer requirements are met.
• Oversee product design, engineering changes, product improvements, and lifecycle management activities.
• Collaborate with Sales & Marketing, Operations, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, and other teams to define product requirements and deliver solutions that meet customer and business needs.
• Drive product quality, reliability, compliance, and cost improvement initiatives.
• Provide engineering support for production, suppliers, customers, and field performance issues.
• Oversee product validation, technical documentation, engineering standards, and supplier technical relationships.
• Establish engineering priorities, strategies, budgets, and performance metrics to achieve departmental objectives.
• Promote continuous improvement, employee development, and effective execution of engineering projects.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited four-year college or university
• Five or more years of related product design, product development, or sustaining engineering experience.
• 2-3 years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment and with configurable or custom-engineered products is also preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Working knowledge of product development processes, design controls, engineering change management, verification and validation, and production launch practices.
• Ability to interpret and approve engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, customer requirements, technical standards, and test results.
• Understanding of design for manufacturability and assembly, tolerance application, material selection, component qualification, reliability, and value engineering.
• Ability to use structured problem-solving methods and data to resolve product performance, quality, cost, and lifecycle issues.
• Working knowledge of CAD, product data management, ERP/MRP, and engineering document control systems is preferred.

Under the direction of the Director of Engineering, the Engineering Manager, Product Development & Sustainment leads the development, improvement, and lifecycle support of company products. This role directs product engineering activities from concept and design through launch, production support, continuous improvement, and end-of-life. The manager ensures products meet customer requirements, applicable standards, quality expectations, cost targets, and manufacturing needs while providing clear technical leadership to the product engineering team.

EEO IS THE LAW EEO IS THE LAW (Spanish)

Leer Inc is the world’s leading manufacturer of retail ice merchandising equipment, walk-in coolers and freezers, and other temperature controlled storage solutions. We have 3 manufacturing plants – 2 in New Lisbon WI, and 1 in Carroll IA. We are an employee owned business, part of the Employee Owned Brands, Inc. group, and we share our wealth and success through an ESOP – Employee Stock Ownership Plan. We are one of America’s oldest and most successful employee owned groups, that has been committed to manufacturing excellence in America’s heartland for over 125 years.