Our client is a well known manufacturer of capital equipment. Due to the growth of their business, there is an immediate need to add a Research Development and Engineering Manager to their team in Oklahoma who will specifically be tasked with the R&D of electronic control products.
This is a high growth, highly entrepreneurial environment. Although candidates from all industries will be considered, candidates from capital equipment companies such as Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, etc would have an advantage.
Compensation will be formulated around the person hired. This company pays extremely well. Opportunity for advancement is extremely high both due to the growth of the business as well as the success of the GM to whom this job reports.
Location is in central Oklahoma, within a reasonable commuting distance of Stillwater and Oklahoma City.
Position Summary:
The Electronics RD&E Manager leads and manages the team of technical resources responsible for research and development of new technologies, the design of new products, and the sustaining engineering of existing products over their life cycle. As a member of the Electronics leadership team, the RD&E Manager contributes to the development of overall business strategy, particularly related to technology utilization and product line vision.
Key Responsibilities:
Technology Research & Development - Develop or adapt new technologies to support the design of innovative, differentiated and profitable electronic products for customer applications.
New Product Development - With the Product Manager and Sales & Marketing Manager, identify, characterize and prioritize new product development opportunities; through the Design Team Managers, lead the definition, costing, planning and execution of new product development projects; with the Manufacturing Manager, successfully transition new products to manufacturing for commercialization.
Sustaining Engineering - Provide engineering support required to sustain existing products throughout their product life cycle, as appropriate to address component obsolescence, product quality and product enhancement needs.
Cost Management - Develop an annual RD&E cost budget and audit/manage cost performance accordingly.
Personnel Management - Manage RD&E staffing to ensure functional capability and capacity aligns with business plans and objectives; coach and mentor RD&E personnel as needed to expand and improve functional skills; ensure timely and quality performance appraisals are conducted for all RD&E employees; identify/address personnel development needs/opportunities to support growth and succession planning.
Planning & Execution - Develop and communicate annual functional performance objectives; generate and execute the plans required to meet those objectives; utilize metrics to measure progress.
Process Improvement - Identify and realize process improvement opportunities related to the Engineering Change Order process, Staged Gate Product Development and other RD&E management processes.
Minimum Qualifications:
BS degree in Electrical Engineering or similar discipline; advanced technical degree preferred.
Minimum 5 years recent experience managing an electronics product design function of similar size and function.
Significant project management skills and experience.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent leadership, teamwork and people-management skills.
Positive, results-driven and action-oriented leadership style.
High degree of personal and professional integrity.
Good problem-analysis and resolution skills.
Good cost management skills.
Strong process orientation and drive for continuous improvement.
Advancement potential is extremely high. Very high visibility job.