Engineering Manager, NPD

Oshkosh AeroTech is a leading provider of aviation ground support products, gate equipment, and airport services to commercial airlines, airports, air-freight carriers, ground handling, and military customers. Oshkosh AeroTech offers products that support those in our communities who do some of the toughest work, owning many of the most trusted brands in the air transportation industry, including LEKTRO®, JetAire®, JetPower®, AmpTekÔ, and Jetway®.

About the role

The Chief Engineer (NPD Jetway) leads and manages a multidisciplinary engineering team focused on the development, integration, and support of Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBB), Commercial and Military Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA), and Group Power (GPU) product lines. This role drives new product development with a strong emphasis on mechanical/electrical/controls engineering excellence, system integration, and technical leadership. The Chief Engineer operates at the intersection of leadership and deep technical expertise, shaping the future of new products.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an engineering team consisting of engineers, designers, and technicians, balancing system-level engineering guidance with team development, accountability, and performance management.
• Collaborate on the development and execution of engineering strategies across product lines with Product Management.
• Lead the continued development and expansion of key products while supporting the transition away from low-volume legacy programs.
• Establish and reinforce strong electrical and mechanical engineering practices, including form, fit, function, system packaging, and overall design integrity.
• Guide system-level design across integrated mechanical, thermal, and power systems, including:
  • Mobile HVAC systems (compressors, condensers, evaporators, thermal calculations).
  • Airflow and pressurization requirements, including aircraft cooling applications and air start.
  • Power generation and delivery systems requiring stable, controlled voltage outputs.
  • Passenger boarding bridges (structures, controls, power).
• Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, and software engineers to ensure full system integration across multidisciplinary domains.
• Support and influence the evolution of organizational structure, including the separation of new product development and sustaining engineering workstreams.
• Ensure engineering work aligns with commercial and military program requirements, including MIL-SPEC compliance, SAE, UL, CE, NEC, first article inspections, and documentation standards.
• Partner with program management and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project execution and technical requirements.
• Serve as a key technical decision-maker influencing product direction, architecture, and adoption of new technologies.
• Act as a technical advisor and mentor across the engineering organization.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve complex technical challenges.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and product line strategy, including understanding business performance and P&L considerations.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, development methodologies, and system integration approaches to align with local and Oshkosh policies.

Requirements

• Accredited Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field with ten (10) or more years of related experience.
• Exposure to both new product development and sustaining engineering environments.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams including mechanical, controls, electrical, and software engineering.

Qualifications

• Accredited Master’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Strong mechanical engineering background with emphasis on system-level design rather than pure CAD execution.
• Experience with mobile HVAC systems, thermal management, or air handling systems in industrial or heavy equipment environments.
• Understanding of integrated power and air systems, including voltage regulation and system stability requirements.
• Experience working on defense or military programs, including familiarity with MIL-SPEC standards and compliance documentation.
• Familiarity with Siemens NX and Teamcenter or similar PLM/CAD systems.
• Strong business acumen, including exposure to product strategy, cost management, or P&L considerations.
• PE License.

Core Competencies

• Internal Contacts: Frequent interaction with engineering leadership, cross-functional teams, and program stakeholders.
• External Contacts: Regular interaction with customers, suppliers, and external partners.
• Communication Skills: Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Decision-Making: Significant responsibility for high-impact technical and organizational decisions.
• Complexity, Judgment, and Problem Solving: Ability to operate in a dynamic environment with evolving organizational structure and competing priorities.
• Supervisory/Managerial: May include direct leadership responsibilities depending on final role structure.

Working Conditions

• Physical Demands:
  • Frequent: Standing, Walking, Sitting, Reaching, Hearing, Talking, Visual, Typing.
  • Occasional: Driving, Fine Dexterity, Manual Dexterity.
  • Seldom: Lifting/Carrying 25 lbs., Pushing/Pulling 25 lbs.
• Non-Physical Demands:
  • Frequent: Analysis/Reasoning, Communication, Reading, Writing, Sustained Mental Activity.
• Environmental Demands:
  • Frequent: Independent work, task switching, detailed technical work.
  • Occasional: High volume interactions.
• Work Schedule: Routine shift hours with occasional additional time required.
• Demands/Deadlines: High volume, variable work demands requiring strong prioritization and adaptability.

Pay

Pay Range: $103,300.00 - $177,700.00. The above pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by various factors, including the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education and skills, as well as the equity of pay among team members in similar positions.

Benefits

Beyond offering a competitive total rewards package, we prioritize a people-first culture and offer various opportunities to support team member growth and success.