Product Development Engineering Manager

Flexsteel Industries Inc.; High Point (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Flexsteel Industries Inc. seeks a Product Development Engineering Manager to lead the engineering and product development team, driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence.

You will lead a high-performing group, collaborate across Product Management, Sourcing, Operations, and Finance, and ensure on-time, on-cost, on-quality launches. You will foster a culture of technical excellence, manage budgets and timelines, and champion continuous improvement to deliver market-leading furniture

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in engineering teams.
• Experience in furniture design environment.
• Strong collaboration with Product Management, Sourcing, Operations, and Finance.
• Proven track record delivering new products and launches.
• Ability to manage timelines and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of product development engineers and model makers.
• Drive end-to-end product development and on-time launches.
• Collaborate with Product Management to align market trends with innovative solutions.
• Deliver cost reductions and improve margins.
• Oversee value engineering and standardization of parts and processes.
• Identify material and process improvements to increase efficiency.
• Manage project timelines and budgets with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Travel as required.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Product development

Continuous improvement

Financial analysis

Job description

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The Product Development Engineering Manager will be responsible for administration and technical leadership of the engineering and Product Development team. This role is integral to driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence. The Product Development Engineering Manager will have a proven track record in leading high-performing teams, delivering new products, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to ensure business success. The core deliverables are:

• Build a culture of technical excellence through innovation, design, and cross-functional partnerships
• Ensure on-time, on-cost, on-quality new product launches leveraging a talented technical team
• Proactively collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Sourcing, Operations, and Finance to ensure project alignment
• Champion continuous improvement within the product development process to support company growth

The ideal candidate would have 5+ Years experience in a leadership role managing engineering teams within a furniture design environment.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of product development engineers, model makers, and support staff to cultivate a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and communicate clear goals, performance metrics, and developmental opportunities for team members to drive engagement and growth.
• Lead the end-to-end product development process, ensuring timely and successful product launches while consistently integrating innovation and sustainability into designs.
• Collaborate with Product Management to align market trends and customer needs with innovative, market-leading product solutions.
• Deliver cost reductions and margin improvements through strong business acumen and financial analysis, aligning with the company’s strategic goals.
• Leverage operational understanding of manufacturing, procurement, and quality processes to optimize product design and profitability.
• Influence business-decision design trade-offs to balance cost, quality, function, and marketability across multiple projects.
• Oversee value engineering initiatives to optimize costs while maintaining quality and performance, including standardizing parts, components, and processes.
• Identify and implement material and process improvements to increase operational efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate proactively with Sourcing, Operations, and Finance to align product development efforts with business objectives and streamline workflows.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure alignment with company objectives while driving continuous improvement in tools, processes, and methodologies.
• Foster a growth-oriented mindset across the product development team, emphasizing strategic oversight and process innovation.
• Travel Required
• All other duties as assigned.