Product Design Engineering Manager Lead Production Platforms

H. T. PROF Group; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

H. T. PROF Group in Waterloo, IA seeks a Product Design Engineering Manager to lead a team supporting production and in‑market products.

You will own product architectures, drive DFM, cost reductions, and ensure compliance while collaborating with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and sales. The role blends leadership with hands‑on technical oversight to deliver scalable, reliable solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience with heavy haul trailers or similar equipment.
• Strong mechanical knowledge in systems, hydraulics, and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of product design engineers.
• Own product architectures, standards, and design intent across heavy haul trailer platforms.
• Prioritize and assign engineering work based on production needs, product improvements, cost‑reduction initiatives, and field feedback.
• Serve as engineering owner for sustaining engineering, product changes, and platform evolution (non‑NPD).
• Ensure engineering support for production, including rapid resolution of design, quality, and manufacturability issues.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Production to improve weldment, fabrication, and assembly methods.
• Improve BOM accuracy, drawings, and release quality.
• Lead and participate in structured design reviews and approve engineering changes.
• Oversee ECN/ECO execution to ensure timely, accurate, and well‑documented product changes.
• Ensure compliance with FMVSS, DOT, and internal engineering and quality standards.
• Apply DFMEA, lessons learned, warranty data, and field feedback to improve durability, safety, and product reliability.
• Drive design-for-manufacturing, design-to-cost, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support sales, service, and operations by providing clear engineering guidance and technical explanations.
• Maintain and improve engineering documentation, databases, and design tools.
• Assist with development and implementation of standard, pre‑engineered product offerings to reduce custom engineering resource demands and improve schedule execution

Skills

Problem-solving

Root-cause analysis

Communication skills

Cost vs manufacturability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

CAD tools

Excel

Engineering data systems

Job description

H. T. PROF Group in Waterloo, IA seeks a Product Design Engineering Manager to lead a team supporting production and in‑market products.

You will own product architectures, drive DFM, cost reductions, and ensure compliance while collaborating with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and sales. The role blends leadership with hands‑on technical oversight to deliver scalable, reliable solutions.