R&D Engineering Manager

Konik; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Medical, dental, vision benefits

PTO and holidays

Professional development

Job summary

Konik is seeking an experienced R&D Engineering Manager in Saint Paul, MN to lead multi-disciplinary teams across mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering for new product development and certification efforts. This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with strategic planning in a highly regulated aerospace environment.

You will partner with program management to drive scope, schedules, and technical objectives, oversee staffing for multiple concurrent projects, and mentor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 10+ years of engineering or aerospace industry experience.
• Experience leading new product introductions and complex development programs.
• Background in aerospace, aviation, or other highly regulated technical industries preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, systems integration, and design-process knowledge.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams for research, product development, systems integration, and certification.
• Drive new product development from concept to production launch and certification.
• Provide technical leadership across mechanical, electrical, systems, and aerospace domains.
• Partner with program management to define scope, schedules, priorities, risks, and objectives.
• Oversee workload planning, staffing priorities, and resource allocation across projects.
• Support design reviews, technical evaluations, and product development activities.
• Drive process improvements, configuration control, and product data management.
• Align engineering activities with company strategy and operational goals.
• Mentor engineering talent and build capabilities for future product initiatives.
• Support FAA certification activities and regulatory documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Aerospace industry experience

Systems engineering

Regulatory/compliance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Job description

R&D Engineering Manager
St. Paul, MN | Direct-Hire | $150,000-$195,000 | 100% onsite

Konik is partnering with a growing aerospace manufacturing and engineering organization seeking to add an R&D Engineering Manager to lead new product development, certification, and cross-functional engineering initiatives. This organization designs and manufactures highly engineered aviation products used globally across passenger transport, tourism, and specialty aviation applications.

This is a highly visible leadership role overseeing multi-disciplinary engineering teams focused on mechanical, electrical, electronic, and systems engineering development efforts. The ideal candidate is a strong technical leader who can balance innovation, execution, regulatory requirements, product development, and team leadership within a highly technical and regulated environment.

R&D Engineering Manager Responsibilities

• Lead and develop multi-disciplinary engineering teams responsible for research, product development, systems integration, and certification activities
• Manage new product development initiatives from concept through production launch and certification
• Provide technical leadership and support for complex engineering challenges across mechanical, electrical, systems, and aerospace applications
• Partner closely with program management teams to define project scope, schedules, priorities, risks, and technical objectives
• Oversee engineering workload planning, staffing priorities, and technical resource allocation across multiple active projects
• Support engineering analysis, design reviews, technical evaluations, and product development efforts as needed
• Drive continuous improvement related to engineering processes, configuration control, documentation, and product data management
• Collaborate with leadership teams to align engineering activities with broader company strategy and operational objectives
• Mentor and develop engineering talent while helping build technical capabilities aligned with future product development goals
• Support FAA certification activities, regulatory compliance, and technical documentation processes

R&D Engineering Manager Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline preferred
• 10+ years of engineering or aerospace industry experience
• Experience leading new product introductions and complex development programs
• Background within aerospace, aviation, or other highly regulated technical industries preferred
• Strong understanding of engineering design processes, systems integration, and technical problem-solving methodologies
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering efforts within fast-paced development environments
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to balance technical depth with project execution, team leadership, and strategic planning
• Comfortable operating in both hands-on engineering support and high-level leadership capacities

R&D Engineering Manager Preferred Experience

• FAA certification processes and regulatory compliance exposure
• Prior engineering leadership or management experience preferred, but not required.
• FAA DER credentials
• Aerospace manufacturing, aviation systems, or complex engineered product environments
• Experience with design reviews, engineering configuration management, and product lifecycle processes
• Cross-functional leadership involving mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams

Compensation & Benefits

• Bonus potential
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• PTO and paid holidays
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Collaborative engineering-focused culture with long-term stability and innovation investment

Konik is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other protected class status.