Manager, Engineering- R&D Test Center

SPX Cooling Tech, LLC; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

401(k) match

Education assistance

Leadership development

Job summary

SPX Cooling Technologies in Kansas City, MO seeks an Engineering Manager – R&D Test Center to lead, standardize, and improve project engineering activities within the testing organization. You will own the DCR process and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery and compliance.

The role requires 8+ years in engineering or technical PM, 3+ years in leadership, and a Bachelor’s in Engineering; PMP preferred and onsite work is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in engineering, testing, product development, or technical project management.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience, including leading project engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex technical projects and maintain portfolio visibility.
• Strong project and portfolio management, organizational, planning, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to establish standards and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, standardize, and continuously improve project engineering activities within the testing organization.
• Own the Development Center Request (DCR) process from creation to closeout.
• Provide governance for DCR portfolio priorities, schedules, and major changes.
• Coordinate with Test Operations to align engineering, testing, and facility resources across projects.
• Ensure certification testing is conducted in accordance with standards and program requirements.
• Provide portfolio status updates to leadership and escalate risks when needed.
• Drive continuous improvement of project engineering and DCR processes.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Portfolio management

Organizational skills

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Customer relationship mgmt

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Project

ERP systems

Job description

SPX Cooling Technologies is a leader in high quality industrial HVAC equipment used to cool large facilities like hospitals, data centers, and power plants. With cooling towers, fans, and refrigeration units, companies rely on brands like Marley, Recold, and SGS to provide comfort and mission critical and industrial cooling solutions.

How you will make an Impact (Job Summary)

SPX is a diverse team of unique individuals who all make an impact. As the Mgr, Engineering – R&D Test Center, you will lead, standardize, and continuously improve project engineering activities within the testing organization. This role directly leads Project Engineers and owns the Development Center Request (DCR) process, ensuring projects are properly planned, executed, documented, and closed in accordance with company procedures. The position is accountable for project engineering performance, DCR compliance, portfolio visibility, engineering resource planning, project execution metrics, and effective coordination with test operations so customer projects move efficiently from initiation through completion.

This role also provides organizational leadership for assigned product certification testing programs, including thermal, sound, CTI, and other third‑party certification activities, while partnering with customers, engineering leadership, the Test Operations Supervisor, the Product Certification Manager and other stakeholders to align project priorities with business objectives, testing capacity, customer expectations, and organizational resources.

This role encourages innovation and continuously improves efficiency of technical support, monitors advances of technology and competition, and supports global and acquisition‑related technical issues in areas of expertise.

What you can expect in this role (Job Responsibilities)

While each day brings new opportunities at SPX, your core responsibilities will be:

• Project Engineering Leadership & DCR Governance
• Directly supervise Project Engineers, establish priorities and objectives, and provide coaching, performance management, development planning, and mentoring.
• Responsibilities include engineering test plan readiness, project scope, DCR process governance, DCR portfolio priorities, technical deliverables, capability planning, and engineering quality.
• Own the DCR process from creation and approval through execution, change management, documentation, compliance, and closeout.
• Review project scopes, schedules, deliverables, resource plans, and major changes; assist with complex technical issues and ensure appropriate risk mitigation plans are developed.
• Establish and maintain project engineering standards, conduct routine DCR compliance reviews, and resolve process‑related issues or escalations.
• Root‑cause investigation of irregular results.
• Technical review of results documentation and finalization of reports.
• Maintain visibility of active DCRs and customer projects, tracking project status, milestones, schedules, risks, deliverables, cycle times, and closeout requirements.
• Balance Project Engineer assignments based on project complexity, priorities, workload, and available engineering resources.
• Partner with the Test Operations Supervisor to align project priorities with testing capacity and coordinate engineering, testing, and facility resource requirements across multiple projects.
• Provide portfolio status updates to leadership, identify future staffing and competency needs, and escalate project risks, delays, or resource constraints when necessary.
• Ensure certification testing is conducted in accordance with applicable standards and program requirements, with required documentation, reports, records, audits, and corrective actions properly managed working with the Product Certification Manager.
• Integrate certification obligations into the overall testing portfolio and work with Test Operations to manage capacity, competing priorities, compliance risks, and published certification deadlines.
• Performance, Customer & Continuous Improvement
• Analyze project performance metrics and trends, including project cycle time, schedule adherence, customer satisfaction, DCR aging, and resource utilization; develop appropriate reports and dashboards.
• Support Project Engineers in customer interactions, participate in critical customer reviews and escalation meetings, and help ensure customer expectations are effectively managed.
• Drive continuous improvement of project engineering and DCR processes by standardizing best practices, improving planning methodologies, implementing lessons learned, and maintaining effective standards and templates.
• Use project performance data to identify bottlenecks, recommend corrective actions, improve planning accuracy, and promote a culture of accountability, technical excellence, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

What we are looking for (Required/Ideal Experience, Skills, Education)

We each bring something to the table, and we are looking for someone who has:

Required Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in engineering, testing, product development, or technical project management.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience, including experience leading project engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex technical projects simultaneously and maintain project portfolio visibility.
• Strong project and portfolio management, organizational, planning, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to establish standards, priorities, accountability, and consistent execution across a technical team.
• Excellent business and technical communication skills, including experience interacting directly with customers and executive leadership.
• Experience with engineering resource planning, workload balancing, data analysis, and performance measurement.
• Ability to analyze complex engineering and project information and prioritize competing business demands.
• Strong customer relationship management skills and a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.

Ideal Experience & Skills

• PMP certification and experience with DCR, stage‑gate, or similar project management processes preferred.
• Laboratory, testing, manufacturing, or engineering operations experience; experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams and using project tracking or ERP systems preferred.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; Master’s degree and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience is also preferred.
• Onsite office environment, Monday – Friday
• The position may require working occasionally outside normal work hours.
• Lifting up to 70 pounds.
• Bending and stooping.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally.
• Working at heights less than 50 feet above ground.
• Work with exposure to bad weather and/or excessive heat.

How we live our culture

Our culture is at the center of what we do and, more importantly, who we are. Our core values set a standard for how we manage ourselves, and our Leadership Model sets the standard for how we engage with each other. Whether you are an individual contributor or you lead a large team, each of us leads at SPX.

What benefits do we offer?

We know that the well‑being of our employees is integral. Our benefits include:

• Generous and flexible paid time off including paid personal time off, caregiver, parental, and volunteer leave
• Competitive health insurance plans and 401(k) match, with benefits starting day one
• Competitive and performance‑based compensation packages and bonus plans
• Educational assistance, leadership development programs, and recognition programs

Our commitment to embrace diversity to build a culture of inclusion at SPX

We value different backgrounds, experiences, and voices at SPX, and we are committed to challenging ourselves, openly communicating, and striving to improve every day. We believe in creating an inclusive work environment where everyone has a voice and is encouraged to realize their fullest potential.

SPX is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to making selection decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.