Job Summary As the leader of the Engineering and New Product Development Team, this hands-on technical and leadership position works closely with other functional leaders in the company, including those in product management, production, service, sales, and marketing. This role is responsible for ensuring that HunterLab’s product offerings and underlying technologies lead the color measurement industry in innovation and value. The Director of Engineering is responsible for all the company’s multiple new product development, product refresh, platform development, and research activities. The Director of Engineering supports the VP of Technology and others in the definition of new products and related research activities for the company. This position has significant full life cycle experience in the hands-on and team leadership in the specification, design, prototype and pilot development and technology transfer to manufacturing of optical analytical instruments and software support systems. The Director of Engineering serves as the primary project manager for the entire design, development, and testing program for new products, platforms, and research activities. Manages development of all elements of project baseline (scope, schedule and budget) while considering the operations, performance, testing, manufacturing, and cost of bringing a new product to market. This position has advanced knowledge and developmental experience in new product development and product engineering with specific and relevant engineering experience in mechanical, electrical and electronics, optics, computer and embedded systems, and software. Manages, mentors, and coaches a multi-disciplinary team of up to ten other engineers and technical roles to maximize team efficiency and development output. Essential Functions and Responsibilities New Product Development and Introduction - Provide informed technical and product vision and engineering leadership for existing and emerging products, platforms, and application technologies through an understanding of customer and business needs.
- Manage and ensure the optimal application of current technology, engineering resources, outsourced design services and project contractors to meet product development and/or customer requirements.
- Work closely with marketing and product management team to develop product specifications derived from market feedback, customer requirements gathering (voice of customer), and historical product data.
- Ensure product requirements are properly documented and understood by all stakeholders early in the product development process.
- Manage and support the overall design process; Check and approve design packages; Ensure that departmental work product meets company, legal, regulatory and business requirements; Implement appropriate functional engineering reviews as required.
- Work closely with procurement and materials management to identify qualified vendors to meet component and delivery capability requirements.
- Oversee prototype material procurement processes.
- Manage and oversee prototype development activities for new product designs utilizing HunterLab’s agile development approach while maintaining compliance to overall specifications;
- Promote effective production processes, ensure optimal performance and cost efficiency including manufacturability and serviceability.
- Oversee the creation and execution of design and instrument performance verification test plans; Manage the design and performance analysis process; Address issues such as failure, reliability, capacity, capability or instrument improvement.
- Oversee product design efforts to ensure that Industry Standards and Certifications, including CE and UL, are achieved.
- Ensure that new product designs are fully and correctly defined, documented and released per HunterLab standards.
Engineering Management - Provide hands-on project management, technical direction and guidance for all product and platform development programs as well as research activities.
- Generate periodic forecasts of engineering resource needs; Coordinate the deployment of design resources in line with agreed resource strategies; Identify appropriate design and engineering standards and practices to be used for departmental projects.
- Coordinate with project engineers and other project staff to ensure consistency in execution of project management activities.
- Oversee and review formal engineering documents such as Bills of Material (BOMs), Hardware Design Documents, Drawings, Specifications, Engineering Change Notifications / Engineering Deviation Notices (ECN / EDN), revision control, release documentation and design document packages; Conduct and oversee project design reviews and review Engineering Lab notebooks.
- Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Leadership - Lead a team of engineers in the definition, resourcing, implementation and delivery of electrical engineering work packages; Manage the entire electrical design, development, and testing program for current or new products.
- Lead engineering support to existing products, respond to outside vendor questions, and recommend product improvements. Investigate product issues from customers, evaluate problems, and recommend solutions in conjunction with other senior engineers.
- Drive the HunterLab Quality Management System to conform to customer, internal, ISO 9001, and regulatory/legal requirements.
- Serve as a leader and advisor in the development of engineering solutions; Support the Vice President of Technology in effective design strategies and product / project planning.
- Manage, mentor, and develop a talented a team of multi-disciplinary engineers and related technical positions.
Supervisory Responsibilities This position manages up to 10 engineers and other technical roles in the department and shares responsibility with the Vice President of Technology for the performance management and personnel development of those employees. |