Product Design Engineering Manager – Sustaining Eng Lead

Ashton North LLC; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashton North LLC in Waterloo, Iowa is seeking a Product Design Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for the design and lifecycle support of our heavy haul product platforms. You will drive manufacturability, cost, and reliability while collaborating with manufacturing, sales, quality, and supply chain.

The role blends hands-on technical oversight with people leadership, requiring strong problem solving, DFMEA, and design-for-manufacturing focus to improve product performance and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in heavy haul trailers, heavy equipment, or fabricated mobile equipment.
• Strong background in mechanical systems, structures, hydraulics, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience supporting products in production environments.
• Practical, hands-on engineering judgment.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to balance cost, performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Proficiency with CAD tools, Excel, and engineering data systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of product design engineers supporting production and in-market products.
• 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; 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

CAD tools

Problem solving

Root-cause analysis

Communication

Hands-on engineering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Engineering data systems

Job description

Ashton North LLC in Waterloo, Iowa is seeking a Product Design Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for the design and lifecycle support of our heavy haul product platforms. You will drive manufacturability, cost, and reliability while collaborating with manufacturing, sales, quality, and supply chain.

The role blends hands-on technical oversight with people leadership, requiring strong problem solving, DFMEA, and design-for-manufacturing focus to improve product performance and