Product Development Manager

Sterling St James LLC; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling St James LLC in Waterloo, Iowa seeks a Product Design Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for sustaining and improving heavy haul trailer platforms. The role blends people leadership with hands-on technical oversight to ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and compliant.

You will own product architectures, drive design-for-manufacturing, manage ECN/ECO processes, and collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and service to support the production schedule and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with heavy haul trailers or similar equipment.
• Strong background in mechanical systems, hydraulics, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience supporting products in production environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of product design engineers.
• Own product architectures, standards, and design intent across heavy haul platforms.
• Prioritize engineering work based on production needs and field feedback.
• Serve as engineering owner for sustaining engineering and platform evolution.
• Ensure engineering support for production and rapid issue resolution.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to improve weldment and BOM accuracy.
• Lead design reviews and approve engineering changes.
• Oversee ECN/ECO execution with timely documentation.
• Ensure compliance with FMVSS, DOT, and internal standards.
• Apply DFMEA and warranty data to improve durability and reliability.
• Drive design-for-manufacturing and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Support sales, service, and operations with engineering guidance.

Skills

People leadership

Project prioritization

DFM design for manufacturability

Root-cause analysis

CAD tools

Verbal & written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

CAD tools

Excel

Engineering data systems

Job description

Job Title: Product Design Engineering Manager

Location: Waterloo, Iowa

Salary: $80-90K plus 15% bonus

Job Summary of the Product Design Engineering Manager:

The Product Design Engineering Manager is responsible for leading a team that manages a defined portion of standard product offerings to support the production schedule. This role focuses on ownership, standardization, continuous improvement, and lifecycle support of existing product platforms, while ensuring designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, compliant, and scalable. The role works closely with other Sr. Engineering Managers leading sub-teams within the department to ensure alignment, consistency, and effective execution across the product portfolio, while supporting Manufacturing, Warranty, and Customer Service functions, and occasionally Sales. This position is expected to manage and develop people while remaining highly tactical and hands-on with regular on-site engagement. The position blends strong people leadership with hands-on technical oversight and close collaboration with manufacturing, sales, quality, and supply chain.

Job Duties & Responsibilities of the Product Design Engineering Manager:

• 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
  • 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

Education & Experience Requirements of the Product Design Engineering Manager:

• 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