Director of Product Engineering

3MD Inc.•Elk Grove Village, IL

10d•$180,000 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Product Engineering will lead product engineering, systems architecture, and design governance for innovative, repeatable, and scalable automation solutions, including scan tunnel, conveyor, and advanced robotic systems for logistics customers. The role bridges product strategy and complex system design with ISO 9001:2015 compliance by directing the engineering Quality Management System (QMS), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) workflows, design controls, and data traceability from customer requirements through production. This leader will develop engineering talent, improve execution, and align Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Sales, and customers to deliver high-quality, production-ready solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
10+ years of experience
Bachelor’s degree in Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, or a related engineering discipline required
10+ years of system design, product engineering, or related engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a direct managerial or supervisory role.
Demonstrated experience implementing or managing ISO 9001 quality systems and audits
Deep knowledge of ISO 9001:2015
Extensive PLM administration or power-user experience with platforms such as Windchill, Teamcenter, Arena, or Enovia, including ECN/ECO, configuration, revision, and BOM management.
Expert knowledge of systems engineering principles, requirements management, design verification and validation, risk analysis (DFMEA/PFMEA), DFM/DFA, and product lifecycle processes.
Proven ability to lead product strategy, engineering execution, process improvement, and successful delivery of complex technical initiatives.
Strong leadership, financial and analytical capability, resource management, decision-making, and strategic problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex engineering designs into clear, standardized documentation and stakeholder presentations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or similar business software.

Nice To Haves

master’s in Business Administration preferred
Certified Lead Auditor preferred
experience with AS9100 or ISO 13485 is highly beneficial
Experience designing material-handling, conveyor, scan-tunnel, or advanced robotic work-cell systems preferred
Experience working with Tier 1 logistics customers preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the product engineering and systems architecture roadmap aligned with company objectives, customer requirements, market demand, and productization goals.
Lead engineering activities across the product lifecycle—from concept and requirements through design, verification, validation, release, deployment, and continuous improvement.
Govern and continuously improve the engineering QMS across system design teams, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and alignment with PLM workflows.
Standardize design controls, including requirements management, design reviews, risk analysis (DFMEA/PFMEA), verification and validation (V&V), and release criteria.
Serve as the primary engineering contact for internal, customer, and third-party ISO 9001 audits; direct root cause analysis and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) for design or process issues.
Own PLM governance and optimization, including system configuration, access and workflow standards, release cycles, document control, and engineering data integrity.
Oversee Engineering Change Notice/Order (ECN/ECO) workflows, configuration management, revision control, and end-to-end traceability from customer requirements to drawings, specifications, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
Tailor and implement standard processes for product lifecycle, change management, quality management, and design documentation.
Chair milestone and design reviews; routinely audit engineering processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement measurable improvements.
Prioritize engineering initiatives, allocate resources, and apply Agile or other fit-for-purpose methods to improve execution, productivity, and timely delivery.
Ensure Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) practices are applied and that complete, accurate design data packages transfer cleanly to Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.
Partner with Sales, Marketing, Operations, customers, and external partners to define product requirements, resolve technical issues, and incorporate feedback into product improvements.
Recruit, lead, mentor, and evaluate systems design, product, and configuration engineering talent; establish clear roles, accountability, and development plans.
Develop technical training for PLM tools, BOM structures, engineering change processes, and ISO 9001 design governance.
Define and report KPIs for engineering effectiveness, quality, schedule performance, change-cycle efficiency, and product success to executive leadership.
Provide clear product vision, technical direction, and sound decision-making for complex engineering, implementation, and resource-management challenges.