Director of Product Development
About The Position
Under the direction of the VP of Engineering, the Director of Product Development Engineering oversees the Product Development Engineering departments, including automotive and general market product development engineering, Validation & Reliability Testing, and Application Tool Engineering. The role focuses on product development from product concepts through the design phase while supporting systems and processes from early innovation and product concept through end-of-life. The position helps maintain HellermannTyton’s leadership in wire and cable management, maintain its certifications, and support corporate initiatives. The Director leads engineering teams and department strategy, advances innovation and the company’s patent and intellectual-property portfolio, evaluates department structure and resources, and coordinates engineering processes and deliverables with other departments. The role also supports training and coaching, department meetings, audits, performance management, lean product development and Design for Six Sigma, and coordination with global engineering counterparts.
Requirements
- BSME degree or equivalent.
- 12–15 years of experience in injection-molded plastics.
- Excellent working knowledge of the injection molding process and tooling.
- Excellent working knowledge of injection molding materials.
- Excellent Microsoft Office and Windows computer skills.
- Working knowledge of ERP-PLM integration.
- Exceptional mechanical engineering, design/development, and innovation aptitude.
- Basic CAD skills; preferably with SolidWorks, NX, or Catia CAD platforms.
- Strong leadership and team collaboration skills.
- Ability to travel internationally.
- Valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and adequate insurance.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in plastics, manufacturing/injection molding, or management.
- Experience with Lean Product Development or Design for Six Sigma.
Responsibilities
- Direct assigned department personnel toward company objectives and continuous improvement in speed-to-market and getting work right the first time, including appropriate use of FEA, plastic flow analyses, DOEs, and APQP.
- Develop department strategy plans and manage goals and objectives in collaboration with the VP of Engineering, incorporating customer and market needs and trends, capital expenditure, and headcount planning.
- Work across all phases of product development to advance the company’s patent and intellectual-property position and innovative product portfolio.
- Evaluate and recommend department structure and resources, including personnel, software, hardware, equipment, succession planning, subject matter expert roles, and use of AI and LLMs.
- Build and maintain relationships with other departments and ensure engineering processes are integrated with the organization, including information flow between PLM/PDM and other systems.
- Coordinate with other departments to deliver product-development outputs on time and ensure inputs, outputs, systems, and processes support efficient and effective work.
- Work with material engineers to incorporate new or improved materials.
- Provide training to coworkers, sales personnel, and customers in areas of expertise; support individual development plans within the department.
- Contribute to regular department meetings and create content that supports department strategies and objectives.
- Represent product development in audits and ensure opportunities for improvement and any findings are addressed.
- Conduct performance evaluations for direct reports and support evaluations for all department personnel.
- Ensure effective use of product-development methods, including Lean Product Development and Design for Six Sigma.
- Coordinate and align product-development activities with counterparts at sister companies where needed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
