Product Engineering Manager
About the Company
Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. We pump peanut butter into your jar and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows, and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house, and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.
This role is based at White Knight Fluid Handling Inc., a subsidiary of Graco, Inc. Established in 1995, White Knight develops and manufactures high-quality pumps and fluid transfer technology for the semiconductor, solar cells, LEDs, flat-panel displays, electronic, and industrial markets.
About the Role
Overall technical product life cycle management for designated product families. This position is closely aligned with Marketing Managers and Manufacturing Cell Managers. Life cycle management includes managing all new product development, standard product maintenance, ongoing cost reductions, and small projects associated with assigned product families.
Contribute to improving Graco's profitability by providing new product design and development leadership that results in the timely release-for-sale of innovative, low-cost, high-quality products that safely and effectively handle customers' most demanding applications.
Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain a 5-year product plan with Marketing Managers and drive new product ideas through technology development.
- Seek out and apply relevant existing and developing technology—both from within Graco and from industry.
- Develop and document knowledge on all competitive products.
- Manage and execute all new product development projects.
- Manage and execute all Standard Product support by closely following field and manufacturing issues, and drive product changes to address the issues.
- Establish cost reduction plans and implement them in coordination with Manufacturing Cells and Purchasing.
- Work closely with Manufacturing in support of 1st pass test improvement, process improvements, and qualifications.
- Establish annual engineering budgets for all engineering expenses and capital, and provide detailed expense reporting on a project basis.
- Establish and implement staffing plans, succession planning strategies, and personnel development and training activities.
- Work closely with other Engineering Manager(s) to ensure sharing and propagation of technology, platforms, cost reductions, and process improvements across all product families.
- Directly supervise Lead Engineers and Project Engineers. Supervision of Project Engineers can be assigned to Lead Engineers at the discretion of the Product Family Engineering Manager.
- Mentor Lead Engineers in project management and personnel management to develop bench strength for future larger management roles.
- Participate in or drive engineering process and policy changes to continuously improve department efficiency and output.
- Measure and interpret group new product design, development, and release-for-sale performance.
- Recruit, train, and develop well-qualified, highly motivated engineering, designer, and technician staff.
- Prepare and conduct formal annual performance appraisals and development plans for direct reports and perform annual salary planning.
- Encourage and support the professional, technical, and business development of self and staff.
- Keep upper management informed of product design and development progress and issues.
- Supervise either directly or indirectly a group of up to 30 designers, technicians, and engineers.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution or equivalent.
- Demonstrated long-term commercial success of assigned product families (incremental revenue, warranty expense, earnings contribution, etc.).
- Demonstrated long-term strategic technical planning of product family portfolio.
- Minimum 9 years of experience in design and development of products, including project management experience with demonstrated ability to produce innovative and successful products.
- A minimum of 6 years of supervisory experience with a demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and develop others.
- Experience managing a technical group of people.
- Experience with engineering computer-based applications.
- Experience with Simultaneous-Engineering product development process.
- Experience with fluid handling equipment development, design, or application.
- Responsible Engineering Manager for relatively large product families (in terms of revenue and impact compared with Grade 13 Product Engineering Managers).
- Demonstrated superior communication, organization, and planning skills.
- Demonstrated ability and credibility to work effectively with outside work groups (Marketing, Manufacturing, Purchasing, IS, Sales Force, etc.).
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with executive management.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with distributors and end users.
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).
Benefits
- Medical and dental coverage.
- Stock purchase plan.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Additional benefits and career development opportunities.
Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Pay
The base pay range for this position is $125,500.00 - $219,600.00, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation. The final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, internal equity of current employees will also be considered. Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.