Product Engineering Manager

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc; Laconia (NH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB) is seeking a Product Engineering Manager for its NHBB Astro program.

You will lead a multi-disciplinary team delivering bearing solutions for aerospace applications, balancing engineering excellence with program leadership and customer focus. Responsibilities include directing product engineering, compliance, export control, and international off-load teams; coordinating with global engineering partners; and driving innovation in bearing technologies for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of engineering experience, with aerospace bearings or rotating machinery exposure.
• Deep knowledge of bearing design, tribology, materials science, failure analysis, and aerospace certification processes.
• Proficiency with CAD/FEA tools and project management methodologies.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Familiarity with SAE/ISO/AS specifications and AS quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor Product Engineering, Cost Estimation, Compliance and Export Control administration, and Global manufacturing coordination.
• Hire, train, performance appraise, and develop team members; set priorities for NHBB Astro products in Helicopter and Engines Centers of Excellence.
• Identify training needs and foster career growth; ensure team alignment with company goals.
• Coordinate technical exchanges with MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace teams.

Skills

Plain bearing design

Tribology

Materials science

Failure analysis

Aerospace certification processes

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management methodologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CAD

FEA bearing analysis

Project management tools/methodologies

Job description

Job Description: Product Engineering Manager NHBB Astro

The NHBB Astro Product Engineering manager position combines plain bearing design and performance expertise with managerial oversight of the Astro Product Engineering, Compliance, Export Control and International off load teams. This role is highly technical yet people oriented, combining engineering with business impact in the aerospace market.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead and mentor Product Engineering, Cost Estimation, Compliance and Export Control administration, and Global manufacturing coordination.
• Hire, train, performance appraise, and develop team members; assign tasks and set priorities surrounding NHBB Astro products in Helicopter and Engines Centers of Excellence.
• Identify training needs, foster career growth and ensure team alignment with company strategic goals.
• Coordinate technical exchanges and discussions with MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace domestic and international engineering teams.

Technical Applications and Customer Support

• Serve as the head technical liaison between NHBB and our Aerospace Customers
• Coordinate the Product Engineering team's review, analysis and substantiation of customer requirements for bearing and next level assembly applications. (e.g., loading conditions, cycles, operating environments, vibration, lubrication).
• Price / Cost Estimation in support of Sales and Center of Excellence products.
• Resolve Customer's technical problems with NHBB Astro products.
• Translate customer needs into bearing designs, proposals, and custom solutions; support design and performance specifications for new opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance to customers on bearing selection, integration, validation, performance optimization, and troubleshooting in our aerospace centers of excellence.

Project and Product Development Oversight

• Manage new application projects for bearing products, from concept through qualification and production.
• Oversee design reviews, calculations, and testing to ensure bearing designs meet aerospace performance, reliability, and certification requirements.
• Coordinate with internal teams (e.g., design, manufacturing, quality, Compliance, R&D) and external stakeholders to develop cost-effective, high-reliability solutions.
• Work with New Product Development Team in defining and driving innovation in bearing technologies for aerospace (e.g., advanced materials, lubrication systems, or failure analysis).

Business and Strategic Contributions

• Support sales efforts by contributing to proposals, cost estimation, technical presentations, and market strategies to expand market share in aerospace bearings.
• Identify new opportunities for Next Level Assemblies and pursue technology trends, market demands, and competitive landscapes to prioritize projects and resource allocation.
• Contribute to budgeting, project timelines, risk management, and compliance within aerospace quality standards.
• Promote risk mitigation through identification and elimination of single points of failure for NHBB Astro processes and materials

Additional Duties

• Ensure adherence to export control, regulatory and environmental standards.
• Collaborate on R&D for next-generation bearing solutions.
• Monitor project progress, budgets, and deliverables; report to senior management.

Typical Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in engineering, with significant time in aerospace bearings, rotating machinery, or applications engineering.
• Deep knowledge of plain bearing design principles, tribology, materials science, failure analysis, and aerospace certification processes.
• Proficiency in tools like CAD, FEA bearing analysis and project management methodologies.
• Strong communication skills for customer interactions, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Familiarity with industry standards (e.g., SAE, ISO, AS specs) and quality systems (AS9100, AS14001).

This role is highly technical yet people-oriented, bridging engineering with business impact in the aerospace market.

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB) is a leading manufacturer of precision bearings and complex bearing assemblies for the aerospace, defense, medical, dental, and high technology markets. Founded in Peterborough, NH in 1946, our almost 8 decades of success are rooted in our commitment to the safety, health and wellness of our employees, and partnerships with our customers, suppliers and the communities that surround us.