R&D Engineering Manager

Wipaire, Inc.; South Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 124,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly cell phone stipend

Annual incentive program

Health insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

PTO 15 days

Job summary

Wipaire, Inc. in Minnesota is seeking an experienced Research & Development Engineering Manager to lead a multi-disciplinary team of engineers from concept through production launch.

The role emphasizes balancing innovation, regulatory requirements, product needs, and budgets, translating complex engineering concepts into actionable plans for management. Ideal candidates will have a strong technical leadership background, aerospace experience, and proven ability to drive new product

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or similar engineering; preferred.
• 10+ years aerospace or engineering experience preferred.
• Prior management experience preferred.
• Experience leading new product introductions.
• Background in regulated or highly technical industries.
• FAA DER credentials preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of engineers across research & development functions.
• Provide technical guidance to complex engineering challenges.
• Set goals for R&D and assess progress against them.
• Coordinate with program management on goals, scope and risk.
• Track bandwidth/capabilities to take on new R&D projects.
• Contribute to engineering analysis and design for projects.
• Recommend outside resources to meet project goals.
• Manage and execute major engineering projects within the dept.
• Define content of design reviews and timing within programs.
• Develop talent and skillsets to meet future needs.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Regulatory compliance

FAA DER knowledge

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace

Job description

Position: Research & Development Engineering Manager

Reports To: Vice President of Engineering

FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt

Hours: Monday - Friday, 40+ hours per week

Pay Range: The approximate pay range is $123,724 - $185,586. Please note that pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Within this range, compensation will be based on the candidate’s skills, experience, education, and other qualifications.

Benefits Summary: Wipaire offers a full benefits package including health, dental, 401(k) plan with employer match, tuition reimbursement, life, short & long term disability insurance and other benefits such as PTO (starting at 15 days) and holiday pay, all while working with great people, first shift, and in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Additional Benefits: This position is eligible for a monthly cell phone stipend and an annual incentive program.

Disclaimer: The benefits noted above are subject to eligibility requirements.

Company Information: At Wipaire we have been engineering and manufacturing aircraft floats for the last 60 years and have become an aviation industry leader of diversified aviation services. Our products are used to convert existing airplanes into sea planes. We support passenger service, tourism, and fire-fighting operations all over the world. Wipaire is committed to investing in our people, products, and technology. Our core values are simple, a win-win mindset, technically adept, work/life balance, do the right thing and have fun. If these values speak to you, we want to connect! Join this growing company that is proudly producing products made in the USA.

Position Summary: This position will report to the Vice President of Engineering and will be responsible for leading and overseeing a team of multi-disciplined engineers responsible for electronic, electrical, mechanical and systems engineering functions.

The Research & Development (R&D) Engineering Manager leads the research, design, development, and certification of new and improved products from concept through production launch. This role is responsible for managing a team of engineers and technical professionals, driving innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and aligning product development initiatives with strategic business objectives.

The ideal candidate is both a strong technical leader and a practical execution-focused manager who can balance innovation, regulatory requirements, product requirements, budget constraints, and timeline commitments. It is critical this candidate possesses the ability to translate complex engineering concepts into clear insights for management.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership to teams of multi-disciplined engineers responsible for research & development functions.
• Provides technical guidance to complex engineering challenges.
• Set clear goals and objectives for the R&D engineering functions and assesses progress to those goals and objectives.
• Work with program management to ensure R&D project goals, scope, and risk are defined and project progress is tracked and assessed.
• Track bandwidth and capabilities of engineering staff to determine ability to take on new R&D projects.
• Participates in engineering analysis and design to assist in completing development projects and solving engineering problems as appropriate.
• Recommends outside resources that can assist current staff to meet project goals.

Duties:

• Manages R&D Engineers ensuring time allocation to projects matches company goals and technical development of engineers occurs.
• Sets priorities for engineering staff based on company project priorities.
• Manages and executes major engineering projects within the department.
• Complies with departmental processes and procedures to ensure product data and configuration changes are effectively communicated to the rest of the company.
• Establishes what information design reviews should contain and when design reviews should be held in a program.
• Provides feedback on the content of design reviews for a given project.
• Works with engineers to develop talent and skillsets that match future product needs.

Wipaire is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on any other applicable legally protected status. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Experience and Skills

Education, Experience and Credentials

• 4-year degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or similar engineering preferred. Prior aerospace experience in maintenance, project management, or support may be substituted for degree preference.
• 10+ practical aerospace or engineering experience preferred.
• Prior management experience preferred.
• Experience leading new product introductions.
• Background in regulated or highly technical industries.
• FAA DER credentials preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of FAA certification processes, including new products, parts, manufacturing processes, aerospace drawings, and managerial/documentation control requirements.
• Able to make proactive design decisions and move forward with projects based on available information; able to think analytically and select a design method from many alternatives.
• Able to obtain senior leadership input, understand all requirements from executive management, and translate that information into work direction for each team member to move projects forward.
• Strong leadership and management skills; able to function well as part of the organization’s leadership team, communicating and interacting proactively and professionally to ensure the organization’s operational and strategic needs are being met.
• Able to supervise employees, set objectives, work goals, and standards, give direction and/or delegate while motivating assigned employees.
• Able to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage own work in a fast-paced environment. Able to work unsupervised, make high level decisions independently, and solve problems effectively and creatively.
• Able to display high levels of customer service, responding promptly and thoroughly to the inquiries and needs of individuals both internal and external to the organization.
• Able to develop and execute in-person presentations to small and large groups of individuals inside and outside the organization.
• Show professional knowledge, proficiency, and initiative in achieving goals and meeting standards.
• Proven management and communication skills working with committees or cross-functional teams to accomplish specific goals and objectives.
• Able to identify, evaluate, problem solve, and give direction regarding problem resolution for individual and company-wide issues.
• Perform occasional lifting of supplies and equipment weighing up to 50+ pounds.
• Hear, comprehend, speak and effectively verbally communicate in the English language, including following verbal and written instructions, in order to communicate with people inside and outside the organization.
• Sit at a desk for extended periods of time and perform long hours of work sitting at a computer.
• Apply manual dexterity and visual acuity for computer keyboarding and office equipment use and to review detailed reports and information.
• Move around the shop and office area repeatedly throughout the day.