Supervisor, Product Development Laboratory

Rheem Manufacturing Company; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Rheem Manufacturing Company in Fort Smith, AR seeks to hire a Supervisor, Product Development Laboratory – Test Engineering to lead the Test Engineering function supporting product development, validation, and advanced research. You will guide testing strategy, instrumentation, data acquisition, and automation while mentoring Test Engineers.

The role emphasizes developing lab capabilities, standardizing procedures, and driving continuous improvement to deliver reliable data and engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Controls, Engineering Technology, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience leading or mentoring engineering or technical personnel.
• Experience developing and executing engineering test programs, including instrumentation, sensors, measurement systems, and data acquisition.
• Strong ability to analyze test data, troubleshoot technical issues, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, develop, and evaluate Test Engineers and lab personnel, providing technical leadership and professional development opportunities.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence, innovation, safety, accountability, and continuous learning within the Test Engineering team.
• Provide technical leadership in laboratory test strategy, test methods, instrumentation, measurement systems, and testing best practices.
• Lead development and continuous improvement of laboratory testing methodologies and measurement techniques.
• Partner with engineering stakeholders to define technical requirements and testing approaches.
• Support product development, sustaining engineering, advanced research, and product validation through testing and analysis.

Skills

Team leadership

Test planning

Data analysis

Instrumentation

Project communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Controls, Engineering Technology, or related engineering discipline

Tools

LabVIEW

Data Acquisition

PLC Controls

Job description

Supervisor, Product Development Laboratory – Test Engineering

The Supervisor, Product Development Laboratory – Test Engineering is responsible for leading the laboratory's Test Engineering function in support of laboratory operations, product development, sustaining engineering, advanced research, and product validation activities. This role provides technical leadership in laboratory test strategy, test methods, instrumentation, measurement systems, engineering analysis, and testing best practices while driving the development and application of expertise within these disciplines. The Supervisor, Product Development – Test Engineering leads a team of Test Engineers and lab personnel and partners with engineering stakeholders to support laboratory testing capabilities and product development objectives through effective testing, measurement, automation, and continuous improvement strategies. The role is responsible for advancing laboratory technical capabilities through automation, standardization, continuous improvement, and the implementation of effective testing and measurement practices. This position promotes technical excellence, develops engineering talent, and supports the growth of laboratory capabilities that improve testing quality, engineering insight, data confidence, and overall laboratory value to the organization. This position will serve Rheem North America, located in Fort Smith, AR. This is an on-site position.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, develop, and evaluate Test Engineers and lab personnel, providing technical leadership, coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence, innovation, safety, accountability, and continuous learning within the Test Engineering team.
• Provide technical leadership in laboratory test strategy, test methods, instrumentation, measurement systems, engineering analysis, and testing best practices.
• Lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of laboratory testing methodologies, procedures, and measurement techniques.
• Partner with engineering stakeholders to understand testing objectives, define technical requirements, and recommend appropriate testing and measurement approaches.
• Support product development, sustaining engineering, advanced research, and product validation activities through laboratory testing and engineering analysis.
• Lead and support root cause investigations, troubleshooting activities, and technical problem-solving efforts utilizing laboratory testing and data analysis in test stations, rooms, and fixtures.
• Review, analyze, and communicate test results to ensure engineering data is accurate, reliable, actionable, and aligned with project objectives.
• Lead the development and implementation of test automation solutions, smart test stands, data acquisition systems, and related technologies, including maintaining an automation roadmap and identifying opportunities to reduce manual activities through automation, digitalization, and improved engineering processes.
• Lead laboratory lab programs, instrumentation strategies, and measurement system practices, including calibration systems, measurement traceability, instrumentation standardization, sensors, data acquisition technologies, and measurement best practices to ensure confidence in engineering data.
• Ensure laboratory testing activities, procedures, and documentation comply with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal engineering practices.
• Lead the development, maintenance, standardization, and continuous improvement of laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), test methods, and technical documentation.
• Ensure laboratory data, records, reports, and engineering documentation meet expectations for accuracy, consistency, completeness, and technical quality while promoting best practices that improve data quality, measurement confidence, repeatability, reproducibility, and technical integrity.
• Provide technical oversight for specialized laboratory disciplines including acoustics, vibration, modal analysis, strain measurement, transportation testing, and other advanced engineering test disciplines and emerging testing technologies.
• Assess laboratory capability gaps and identify opportunities to expand testing capabilities through new technologies, equipment, methodologies, and engineering practices.
• Evaluate and recommend laboratory equipment, instrumentation, software, and technology investments while leading technical improvement initiatives and supporting long-term capability development and technical roadmaps.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Controls, Engineering Technology, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in product testing, validation, laboratory engineering, reliability, or a related technical field.
• Experience leading or mentoring engineering or technical personnel.
• Experience developing and executing engineering test programs, including instrumentation, sensors, measurement systems, and data acquisition.
• Strong ability to analyze test data, troubleshoot technical issues, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of engineering testing principles, measurement methods, and laboratory best practices.
• Ability to develop and standardize test methods and measurement practices.
• Strong project management, prioritization, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, develop, and grow technical talent.

Preferred Qualifications

• HVAC industry experience.
• Experience with acoustics, sound testing, vibration testing, modal analysis, strain measurement, transportation testing, or other specialized laboratory disciplines.
• Experience developing automated test systems, smart test stands, controls, or data acquisition solutions.
• Experience with laboratory calibration systems, or measurement traceability programs.
• Knowledge of applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements such as AHRI, ASHRAE, UL, DOE, ANSI, ISO, or equivalent testing standards.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives and laboratory capability development projects.
• Experience with test automation, PLC controls, LabVIEW, data acquisition platforms, or similar laboratory automation technologies.

About Us

At Rheem, we engineer products for life. For home life. For work life. For the life of the planet we all share. Backed by over 100 years of expertise, we’re passionate about product innovation and boldly committed to sustainability. Our full line of global air and water solutions deliver reliable performance, comfort and energy savings for residential and commercial applications worldwide. From engineers to accountants, sales professionals to support experts, Rheem depends on people to power our innovations. Join Rheem and help shape the future of products that impact lives—every day.

Our Behavior Based Values Set Us Apart

• Listening to Understand – Open mind, learning from others, accepting feedback, embracing the objective
• Contributing Respectfully – Sharing opinions, valuing ideas, sharing opposing perspectives with respect
• Thinking Creatively – Applying creativity, seeking improvements, understanding from the customers’ lens
• Acting with Responsibility – Owning decisions and actions, acting with integrity, embracing accountability

Rheem is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Rheem encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including those of any race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. The job description above has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Equivalent combination of education, experience, and skills may supplement above minimum job requirements.

For U.S. Based jobs, please note that Rheem is unable to hire candidates to be employed in the following states: Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, or Vermont.

Rheem and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed Recruitment Services Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee.