Product Engineering Manager

Index Search Group; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) plan

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Index Search Group client seeks a Product Engineering Manager to lead product engineering, new product development, and technical strategy in a specialized engineering and manufacturing environment. The role oversees 4–6 engineers, with ~10% travel, on-site in Kamas, Utah.

Responsibilities include maintaining a five-year plan, driving ideas through technology development, and addressing field/manufacturing issues to improve performance and reduce costs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent.
• 9+ years in product design and development with project management.
• Experience leading and developing engineering teams.
• Proven ability to deliver products through full lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead product engineering, new product development, and technical strategy.
• Develop and maintain a five-year product plan with Marketing.
• Oversee NPD projects and address field/manufacturing issues.
• Manage budgets, staffing plans, and performance reviews.
• Collaborate across Marketing, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and other leaders.
• Mentor engineers and drive process improvements.
• Ensure cost-reduction initiatives and robust product qualifications.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Technical depth

Team development

Cross-functional collaboration

Budgeting

Product lifecycle management

Supplier/manufacturer liaison

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Our client is seeking a Product Engineering Manager to lead product engineering, new product development, and technical strategy within a specialized engineering and manufacturing environment.

This role will establish and maintain a five-year product plan, work closely with marketing to develop new product ideas, and drive those ideas through technology development. The Product Engineering Manager will oversee new product development projects while also supporting existing products by addressing field and manufacturing issues, improving product performance, and identifying cost-reduction opportunities.

The ideal candidate will bring strong engineering leadership, technical depth, and experience taking products through their full lifecycle. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can provide strategic direction while remaining technically engaged when needed.

The Environment

This is an on-site engineering leadership opportunity in Kamas, Utah, supporting the development of specialized fluid handling equipment used in high-tech manufacturing environments.

The engineering organization works across product development, manufacturing, technology development, product support, and process improvement. The Product Engineering Manager will collaborate closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and other Engineering leaders to advance product families, share technology, improve processes, and reduce costs.

The role reports to the President and directly supervises Lead Engineers and Project Engineers, with approximately 4-6 people within the broader engineering organization. The position requires approximately 10% travel.

Key Focus Areas

• Establish and maintain a five-year product plan in partnership with Marketing Managers.
• Drive new product ideas through technology development.
• Identify and apply relevant existing and emerging technologies from within the organization and across the industry.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of competitive products.
• Manage and execute new product development projects.
• Support standard products by closely monitoring field and manufacturing issues and driving product changes to address them.
• Establish cost-reduction plans and implement them in coordination with Manufacturing Cells and Purchasing.
• Work closely with Manufacturing to improve first-pass testing, processes, and product qualifications.
• Establish annual engineering budgets for engineering expenses and capital projects.
• Provide detailed expense reporting on a project basis.
• Develop staffing plans, succession planning strategies, personnel development programs, and training activities.
• Collaborate with other Engineering Managers to share technology, platforms, cost reductions, and process improvements across product families.
• Directly supervise Lead Engineers and Project Engineers.
• Mentor Lead Engineers in project management and personnel management to build bench strength for future management roles.
• Lead or participate in engineering process and policy changes designed to improve department efficiency and output.
• Measure and interpret new product design, development, and release-for-sale performance.
• Recruit, train, and develop engineering, design, and technician staff.
• Conduct formal annual performance reviews and development planning for direct reports.
• Support annual salary planning for the engineering organization.
• Encourage and support the professional, technical, and business development of engineering team members.
• Keep upper management informed of product design, development progress, and issues.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role includes:

• A clear five-year product plan aligned with business and market needs.
• New product ideas successfully advanced through technology development and the product lifecycle.
• New products developed and released successfully.
• Existing products continuously improved based on field and manufacturing feedback.
• Stronger first-pass testing, manufacturing processes, and product qualifications.
• Cost-reduction initiatives identified and implemented across product families.
• Engineering budgets effectively established, managed, and reported.
• Strong staffing, succession planning, training, and development processes within the engineering organization.
• Engineering talent recruited, developed, and retained.
• Strong collaboration and technology sharing across engineering and product families.
• Engineering processes continuously improved to increase department efficiency and output.
• Product design and development performance consistently measured and communicated to upper management.
• A strong leadership bench developed for future engineering management needs.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution or equivalent.
• Minimum of 9 years of experience in product design and development, including project management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to produce innovative and successful products.
• Minimum of 6 years of supervisory experience with a demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and develop others.
• Experience managing a technical group.
• Demonstrated long-term commercial success within assigned product families, including incremental revenue, warranty expense, and earnings contribution.
• Demonstrated long-term strategic technical planning of product family portfolios.
• Experience with engineering computer-based applications.
• Experience with a simultaneous-engineering product development process.
• Experience with fluid handling equipment development, design, or application.
• Strong engineering leadership and technical capabilities.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) experience.
• Experience with New Product Development and taking products through every stage of the lifecycle.
• Engineering or Materials Science background.
• Ability to understand technical requirements and determine what the organization needs from an engineering perspective.
• Experience with fluid handling systems or equipment is preferred.
• Semiconductor experience is preferred.
• Experience in fluid handling or life sciences is preferred.
• Acquisition or M&A experience, particularly integrating engineering teams, products, or businesses, is preferred.
• Ability to operate at a Director level while remaining technically hands-on when needed.
• Strong project management and product development capabilities.
• Strong leadership and technical capabilities.
• A collaborative approach with kindness and patience.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder.
• Ability to work on-site in Kamas, Utah.
• Ability to travel approximately 10%.
• 15%-30% bonus opportunity.
• Long-term incentive opportunity.
• Full health, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan.
• Relocation assistance.