Sustaining Engineering Lead - Heavy Equipment

CareerNerds, LLC; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CareerNerds, LLC is seeking an Engineering Manager – Sustaining Products in Waterloo, Iowa to lead a team of engineers responsible for existing product platforms and production support.

The role emphasizes sustaining engineering, design optimization, and cost reduction, partnering with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Warranty, and Customer Service to ensure reliable, manufacturable products that meet industry standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in heavy-haul trailers, heavy equipment, or fabricated mobile equipment preferred.
• Prior engineering leadership or team management experience.
• Strong mechanical design, structural, hydraulics, and manufacturing process knowledge.
• Experience supporting existing products in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with CAD, Excel, and engineering data management systems.
• Experience with engineering change management, design reviews, BOMs, and technical drawings.
• Familiarity with design-for-manufacturability and cost-reduction initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of design engineers for existing platforms and production support.
• Set engineering priorities and allocate resources based on production needs and improvements.
• Collaborate to maintain consistent engineering standards and practices across the portfolio.
• Provide hands-on technical guidance while staying engaged in day-to-day operations.
• Own sustaining engineering, maintenance, and evolution of heavy-haul trailer platforms.
• Lead design improvements for manufacturability, durability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Address production issues, quality concerns, warranty claims, and field performance problems.
• Apply root-cause analysis and lessons learned to identify improvements and prevent recurrence.
• Lead design reviews and evaluate proposed changes for accuracy and alignment.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Production to improve fabrication and assembly methods.
• Improve drawings, BOMs, and design release processes for accurate manufacturing.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide timely engineering support to resolve manufacturing challenges.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to evaluate cost-effective material and design options.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Microsoft Excel

Engineering data management systems

Job description

CareerNerds, LLC is seeking an Engineering Manager – Sustaining Products in Waterloo, Iowa to lead a team of engineers responsible for existing product platforms and production support.

The role emphasizes sustaining engineering, design optimization, and cost reduction, partnering with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Warranty, and Customer Service to ensure reliable, manufacturable products that meet industry standards.