Sustaining Engineering Manager

KARL STORZ North America; Stafford (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

KARL STORZ North America is seeking a Sustaining Engineering Manager to lead product sustaining activities from concept to manufacturing release, ensuring quality and regulatory compliance. You will drive engineering changes, manage budgets and timelines, and collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, and Quality to deliver robust medical devices.

You will mentor cross-functional teams, oversee long-lead planning, and communicate risks and milestones to senior leadership,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years leading hardware/software development projects.
• Experience with Stage-Gate or structured product development.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Excellent communication with stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead sustaining activities from concept through manufacturing release.
• Manage product changes, schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Collaborate with Product Management to define plans and costs.
• Ensure regulatory documentation and compliance readiness.
• Mentor and develop cross-functional teams across engineering, operations and quality.
• Drive continuous improvement in product quality, reliability and cost.
• Oversee SAP structures, BOMs, and long-lead material planning.
• Present status, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership.

Skills

Project leadership

Team mentoring

Stakeholder influence

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Risk management

Regulatory awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Project

SAP

BOM management

Job description

About KARL STORZ

From the operating room to surgery centers—and everywhere in between—KARL STORZ North America is a global leader in medical technology and advanced visualization solutions. We design specialty innovations, smart instruments and devices, integrated ecosystems, and intelligent imaging—to build a more connected, software-enabled operating room.

From the operating room to surgery centers—and everywhere in between—KARL STORZ North America is a global leader in medical technology and advanced visualization solutions. We design specialty innovations, smart instruments and devices, integrated ecosystems, and intelligent imaging—to build a more connected, software-enabled operating room.

As an independent, family-owned MedTech company, we ambitiously think in generations instead of quarters to improve patients’ lives around the world. Location: Must live near the greater Houston (Stafford) area.

Sustaining Engineering Manager

Shape the Future of Innovative Medical Technology

Are you a passionate engineering leader who thrives on solving complex technical challenges, driving continuous improvement, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional products? Join KARL STORZ as a Sustaining Engineering Manager and play a pivotal role in managing products throughout their lifecycle, from market release through end-of-life, while ensuring quality, compliance, performance, and customer satisfaction.

In this highly visible leadership position, you will serve as the critical link between Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and Leadership teams, driving product enhancements, engineering changes, and strategic sustaining initiatives that directly impact our customers and business success.

What You'll Do

As a Sustaining Engineering Manager, you will lead and oversee all phases of product sustaining activities and product change initiatives, ensuring successful execution from concept through manufacturing release.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the lifecycle management of products following market release through obsolescence.
• Lead engineering change initiatives including feasibility studies, design modifications, prototype builds, pilot production, validation activities, and manufacturing transitions.
• Manage multiple product change projects, schedules, budgets, resources, and deliverables simultaneously.
• Partner with Product Management to establish execution plans, delivery timelines, and product cost objectives in alignment with GPDP or KSIS processes.
• Define project strategies, operational objectives, and work plans while allocating resources and assigning key project roles.
• Ensure all engineering deliverables, including hardware, software, drawings, documentation, and product requirements, are incorporated into project plans and delivered on schedule.
• Collaborate with Engineering Managers to identify and assign Technical Leads for complex software and hardware programs.
• Drive teams toward successful completion of product changes while maintaining clear communication with stakeholders regarding schedules, risks, and milestones.
• Manage SAP-related product structures, including part numbering and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Oversee long-lead material planning and coordinate closely with Purchasing to support project timelines.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Purchasing teams to identify and qualify new suppliers as needed.
• Lead risk identification, assessment, mitigation planning, and execution throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all documentation required for regulatory submissions and compliance activities is completed accurately and on time.
• Facilitate seamless transfer of product knowledge and documentation to Manufacturing teams during production launch.
• Monitor post-release performance, analyze service feedback and trends, and drive product and process improvement initiatives.
• Present project status, risks, mitigation plans, and recommendations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Participate in Engineering Change (EC) meetings and contribute to ongoing quality and continuous improvement efforts.

What Makes This Opportunity Exciting

• Lead impactful projects that improve and sustain innovative medical technologies.
• Influence product strategy and lifecycle decisions.
• Collaborate with talented multidisciplinary teams across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Product Management, and Customer Support.
• Drive meaningful improvements in product quality, reliability, cost, and customer experience.
• Shape the future of products used in critical healthcare environments worldwide.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience successfully leading complex hardware and/or software development projects.
• Experience working within Stage-Gate or structured product development processes.
• Strong project leadership and team management capabilities.
• Proven ability to mentor, coach, and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to drive projects to completion.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in engineering, project management, manufacturing, product development, or related disciplines.
• Medical device or medical systems experience strongly preferred.
• PMP and/or IPMA certification.
• Experience with Microsoft Project.
• Knowledge of SAP, BOM management, and product lifecycle processes.
• Familiarity with regulated product development environments.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and decision-making
• Strong people leadership and team development
• Risk assessment and mitigation planning
• Conflict resolution and stakeholder management
• Effective cross-functional collaboration
• Problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset
• Excellent verbal, written, and multicultural communication skills

Why KARL STORZ?

Join KARL STORZ and be part of a team creating medical innovations that truly make a difference. Beyond technology, you’ll be part of a culture that values talent as its greatest asset, empowering you to contribute to a mission that improves patient care worldwide.