Mechanical Design Unit Lead II

Confidential; Raymond (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

401K Plan with company match

Medical, Dental, Vision

Paid time off

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Honda is seeking a seasoned design leader to supervise the Powersports Design Function, managing policy, process improvements, and resource planning to deliver advanced prototypes and production-ready vehicles.

You will lead a team of design engineers across frame, chassis, and appearance, coordinate with stakeholders, ensure on-time milestones, and drive best practices, while maintaining confidentiality in a global organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field required; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years related work experience; 4+ years supervisory/leadership in powersports or automotive.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities; ability to lead crucial conversations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead a design engineering team across multiple domains (Frame, Chassis, Appearance, Power Performance).
• Drive resource planning, scheduling, and priority setting to meet targets and budgets.
• Collaborate with Unit Heads and Managers to shift resources as needed and avoid delays.
• Develop prototypes and apply new technologies to support production goals and quality targets.
• Lead hiring, coaching, and performance reviews; manage associate growth and development.
• Identify inefficiencies; perform root-cause analysis and implement cross-unit best practices.
• Represent the function in discussions on resource planning, equipment needs, and responsibilities.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

CAD/CAE

FTA/FMEA

MS Office

Scheduling

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD software

CAE principles

Job description

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a HondaHonda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one.

We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success.

We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

To supervise the daily operational and administrative work of a Powersports Design Function, including department policy/business process management, process improvement management, organizational/resource management, and preventing/resolving issues to ensure the function group focuses on efficient and effective output. Contribute to the development of functioning prototypes that will eventually become production Powersports vehicles, researching and applying new technologies to support business targets, and maintaining global vehicle product quality.

Key Accountabilities

Supervise and actively contribute to a function team consisting of several design engineers of various skill levels, contingents, and student associates in areas such as Frame, Chassis, Appearance, or Power Performance within a matrix organization to output key deliverables such as specifications, development documents, and drawings for numerous, concurrent model developments. Provide leadership to the function group for balancing priorities, overcoming obstacles, aligning expectations with stakeholders, and managing work hours to minimize risks for not achieving targets.

Track work status of the group and forecast the ability to hit deadlines. Collaborate with other Unit Heads and Manager to shift resources as needed.

Ensure the function group is communicating and collaborating internally on a regular basis to deliver results. Drive collaboration with other functions to resolve issues and to maintain awareness of topics relevant to their daily work. Create an environment of strong communication to avoid conflicts and aid in better decision-making. Promote sharing of best practices across the function and with other function leaders.

Decide assignments for distributing work within the function group, including yourself as a contributing member, to achieve business targets and objectives according to master development schedules and market needs. Determine the target group composition and skill required to achieve business deliverables. Assess the group status on a regular basis and take action to close the gap such as assigning training or other activities to facilitate associate growth.

Establish associate goals and support Manager to establish department goals. Conduct associate performance reviews to judge results and provide feedback to direct reports for instruction on personal development. Create documents to propose and justify additional manpower as needed. Lead the hiring process with support from Management to identify/select candidates for retaining target headcount level.

Identify processes that cause inefficiencies or quality issues. Lead root cause analysis and countermeasure activity. Collaborate with manager to implement best practices across other units in the department. Represent the function group viewpoint to assist Management in discussions related to resource planning, equipment needs, associate matters, and project responsibilities.

Substitute for the Dept Lead occasionally with management responsibilities related to procurement, travel approvals, timekeeping, and/or facility access to prevent disruptions of business operations.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

Minimum Educational Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering for relevant field. (eg: Mechanical)Equivalent experience may be considered.

Minimum Experience:

Minimum Experience:10+ Years related work experience preferably in Powersports or Automotive field.4+ Years supervisory/project leadership in a similar organization.

Other Job-Specific Skills:

Capable at providing direction to direct reports according to established policies and management guidelinesStrong leadership, coaching and mentoring skillsStrong interpersonal, communication and presentation skillsAbility to interact/communicate effectively with staff/management in a global organizationAble to resolve conflict and lead crucial conversationsMust be able to operate with high level of confidentialityProficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Powerpoint, Word, Outlook)Competent in FTA, FMEA, dimensional tolerance stack-ups and applicationCompetent analytical, problem solving, judgement, decision-making and prioritizationCompetent drawing and layout skills/techniques using CAD software, including understanding of CAE principlesCompetent in creating a plan and scheduleCompetent in understand product development schedules

Working Conditions

Travel: Average of 3-5 times annually. Amount varies based on project demands/responsibilities, conferences, etc.; includes possible overseas travel.

Physical: Primarily works at a desk or scope; frequent keyboarding. Limited kneeling, standing, squatting, reaching or bending.

Hazards: Risks found in a typical office & shop setting. May be exposed to explosives/flammables, pressurized equipment, toxic chemicals and moving parts.

Overtime: Overtime expected based on project demands/responsibilities.

Maintains professional conduct and follows all departmental, safety DEPARTMENT, and COMPANY policies, Procedures, AND rules.

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards

Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)

Regional Bonus (when applicable)

Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)

Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)

Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown

Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

401K Plan with company match + additional contribution

Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth

Advancement Opportunities

Career Mobility

Education Reimbursement for Continued learning

Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings

Lifestyle Account

Childcare Reimbursement Account

Elder Care Support

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment

Wellbeing Program

Community Service and Engagement Programs

Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.