Director of Research, Development & Product Innovation

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and develop R&D, product engineering, and innovation strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead the strategic direction of Research & Development, product engineering, and innovation initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, customer needs, and long-term business growth.
• Drive the development, enhancement, and commercialization of railcars, components, and service equipment solutions that improve performance, reliability, safety, and customer value.
• Establish and execute a forward-looking innovation roadmap that anticipates market trends, emerging technologies, and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies, materials, manufacturing methods, and digital solutions that strengthen competitive advantage and operational excellence.
• Inspire a culture of innovation by fostering creative problem-solving, encouraging new ideas, and promoting continuous learning and technical excellence across engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Prioritize and manage a portfolio of engineering, product development, and innovation projects, balancing strategic objectives, resource allocation, risk, timelines, and business impact.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Repair, Leasing, Sales, Operations, and other stakeholders to improve product performance, manufacturability, repairability, reliability, and lifecycle value.
• Serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, providing mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities for engineering team members.
• Monitor market dynamics, customer feedback, industry developments, and competitive activity to identify opportunities for product differentiation and business growth.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with customers, suppliers, industry organizations, universities, and technical experts to advance research, innovation, and technology adoption.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, engineering best practices, and company quality and safety expectations.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resources, workforce planning, and organizational capabilities to support current and future business needs.
• Champion quality, safety, Responsible Care, and continuous improvement initiatives while driving a high-performance culture focused on innovation, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Act as a visionary leader who challenges conventional thinking, identifies breakthrough opportunities, and drives transformative solutions that position the organization as an industry leader in engineering and innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive engineering experience, including product development, mechanical design, research, testing, and implementation.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing engineering, technical, or R&D teams.
• Proven ability to drive innovation, solve complex technical challenges, and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Able to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Able and willing to travel up to 20% based on business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or Business Administration.
• Experience in rail, tank car manufacturing, repair operations, or other regulated industrial environments.
• Strong knowledge of US-DOT, Transport Canada, AAR, FRA, and related industry regulations and standards.
• Experience leading innovation initiatives, technology roadmaps, and new product development programs.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant professional certifications.
• Experience implementing quality, safety, and continuous improvement programs.