Manager, Research and Development

Position Summary

The Manager, Research & Development, is responsible for technical leadership and management of research and development projects from concept through commercialization. This role oversees the simultaneous development of multiple new products ensuring alignment with corporate strategic goals while effectively managing budgets and resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and coaching to advance new product development from conception through production.
• Foster a team-oriented working environment focused on excellence.
• Mentor team members in support of career development and advancement.
• Submit personnel requisitions as directed and lead the hiring effort to fill them, evaluating candidates, determining interview panel members, and selecting candidates to hire.
• Lead highly complex product development projects through all aspects of design from concept through commercialization, ensuring that product requirements and cost targets are met with robust, high-quality solutions.
• Provide input on product development estimates.
• Collaborate effectively with NPI Management to determine product development milestones which support corporate launch/tender submission dates.
• Organize and track product development tasks to ensure milestones are met on time, adjusting team resource allocations as necessary.
• Monitor team performance to ensure effective utilization of resources and a high quality of work.
• Jointly establish annual goals with each team member and monitor progress toward achievement.
• Identify and coordinate training opportunities for team members.
• Complete annual performance reviews and provide input to annual merit planning activities.
• Lead the team's interface with Product Management and NPI Management.
• Collaborate with vendors and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure a high level of DFM (design for manufacturability).
• Interface with Quality and Assembly to understand and address individual part issues, as well as ensure a high-quality final product.
• Support Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and other departments as needed.
• Ensure products are designed with consideration for ease of manufacturing and inspection and that product costs meet plan.
• Review and approve drawings to ensure applicable standards are met and that important tolerance stacks have been documented showing acceptable results.
• Review and approve test plans, ensuring that they are logical, thorough, and evaluate all necessary product requirements.
• Assess the accuracy and integrity of test results and conclusions, directing additional testing as necessary for the verification of product performance.
• Create, release, and maintain a Product Technical Specification for assigned development projects.
• Review drawings, BOMs, and change orders being released in the PLM system for accuracy, thoroughness, appropriate content, and adherence to company standards.
• Assess and approve or reject waivers and deviations using sound engineering judgement backed up by tolerance stack or other analyses.
• Review final product inspection procedures, initiating changes or additional checks to ensure quality of finished products.
• Support Customer Service with the resolution of quality issues as needed.
• Drive Continuous Improvement in Research & Development operations.
• Lead, participate in, and sustain 5S standards.
• Must follow all required Safety and ISO procedures.

Education/Experience & Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and 10+ years of engineering experience in a Research & Development environment.
• 3-5 years of managerial experience leading an Research & Development engineering team is required.
• Strong leadership skills and exceptional interpersonal skills to oversee team performance, foster collaboration and drive operational efficiency.
• Experienced performing and able to guide team members in conducting complex analyses such as FEA, kinematic and dynamic motion, CFD, and/or heat transfer.
• Possess a strong working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 standards including GD&T.
• Must be detail-oriented; able to identify drafting errors and less than optimal dimensioning and tolerancing schemes during drawing review.
• Must understand tolerance stack requirements and results including statistical elements.
• Strong fundamental understanding of manufacturing methods including machining, metal injection molding, plastic injection molding, stamping/fine blanking, extrusion, forging, and casting as well as knowledge in material selection, heat treatment and coatings.
• Demonstrated expertise in making strategically and financially sound decisions while managing budget, schedule, resources, and quality constraints at a portfolio level.
• Strong competency using Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint to compile, analyze, and present data.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Project and monday.com is preferred.
• Experienced using a PLM system for complete product lines (Agile preferred).
• Must be able to clearly, concisely, and accurately convey ideas and information to others, both verbally and in written form.
• Able to effectively present information to executive management.
• Able to lead teams in defining and resolving highly complex problems by collecting and analyzing data, establishing facts, drawing valid conclusions, and executing viable solutions.
• Experience using and maintaining firearms and/or related products preferred.
• Familiarity with ITAR, ATF and EAR regulations is preferred.
• Familiarity with NATO and TOP standards as well as Mil-Specs is preferred.