New Product Development Manager

BrightHire Search Partners; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

BrightHire Search Partners is seeking an experienced NPD Mechanical Engineer to lead new product development from concept to market. You will head a small, multidisciplinary team and drive a formal stage-gate process with senior leadership involvement.

You will stay hands-on in design, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting while coordinating across engineering, product, quality, manufacturing, and sales to meet ambitious timelines.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• 6+ years of experience in new product development.
• Track record of launching specific products from concept to market.
• Experience with scientific or analytical instrumentation.
• Solid understanding of chemistry principles.
• Laboratory management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the NPD team in delivering against the product roadmap and getting products to market on schedule.
• Own and improve a phased stage-gate process with clear deliverables, metrics, and accountability across functions.
• Stay hands-on in design, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Work across Engineering, Product Management, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and Sales to remove obstacles and keep timelines on track.
• Build dashboards and tracking tools that keep milestones visible and reliable.
• Set documentation standards and ensure products can be manufactured as changes are introduced.
• Hold weekly 1:1s, coach engineers, and keep the team accountable.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Prototyping

Stage-gate process

Technical communication

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Our client is a well-established global manufacturer of precision analytical instruments used in municipal, industrial, and environmental applications. We are looking for a NPD Mechanical Engineer who is a manager or someone who has been a Sr. Mechanical or Lead Mechanical who wants to take the next step in their career.

The Opportunity

This is a builder role. You’ll lead new product development from proof of concept through design, beta and field testing, and the handoff to manufacturing, usually with several projects running at the same time. You’ll lead a small, multidisciplinary team of engineers, run a formal stage-gate process with senior leadership, and have real authority to set the NPD best practices, processes, and management style.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the NPD team in delivering against the product roadmap and getting products to market on schedule
• Own and improve a phased stage-gate process with clear deliverables, metrics, and accountability across functions
• Stay hands-on in design, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting. This is not a delegate-only role
• Work across Engineering, Product Management, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and Sales to remove obstacles and keep timelines on track
• Build dashboards and tracking tools that keep milestones visible and reliable
• Set documentation standards and make sure products can be manufactured as each change is introduced
• Hold weekly 1:1s, coach your engineers, and keep the team accountable

What You Bring

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field
• 6+ years of experience in new product development
• A track record of personally launching specific products from concept to market
• Experience with scientific or analytical instrumentation
• A solid understanding of chemistry principles
• Laboratory management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have

• A background in fluidics, thermal design, or thermodynamics
• Experience in commercial water, HVAC, Pool/Spa or scientific instrumentation
• A bias for speed, sound risk-taking, and the ability to explain complex technical issues simply

Why This Role

• Shape the NPD function and its processes from the ground up
• Work in a modern, recently built manufacturing headquarters
• Join an established global company with a strong reputation in its market