Engineering Manager - Product Development

Gradian Thermal Solutions•Maple Grove, MN

1d•$120,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Development Engineering Manager leads Gradian’s technology development, product innovation, and pre-commercial engineering initiatives. The role develops new technologies, validates concepts, and creates future product platforms that support the company’s long-term growth strategy. It bridges research and production by converting ideas into proven technologies ready for New Product Development (NPD) and commercialization. The manager drives technical innovation, prototype development, testing, and technology readiness while aligning work with customer needs, market trends, and manufacturing capabilities. Gradian is an engineering-led thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. The company designs and manufactures liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions. It is headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and has additional facilities across North America. The position is based at Gradian’s Maple Grove office. The listed salary range is $120,000–$160,000 per year.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
10 or more years of engineering experience in HVAC, mechanical systems, or product development.
5 or more years of engineering leadership experience.
Experience leading New Product Development programs from concept through launch.
Experience with design validation, testing, and product qualification methodologies.
Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering or Business.
Experience with Stage-Gate Product Development processes.
Experience with DFMEA, risk management, and reliability engineering.
Experience with CFD, FEA, and engineering simulation tools.
Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software.
Familiarity with UL, ETL, AHRI, ASHRAE, and applicable HVAC standards.
Experience with product platform development and modular design strategies.
Lean Product Development or Six Sigma experience.

Responsibilities

Own the technology roadmap for future HVAC products and systems.
Evaluate and develop new concepts, technologies, and product architectures.
Lead feasibility studies and proof-of-concept projects.
Own the New Product Development stage-gate process from concept through launch.
Ensure projects meet scope, cost, schedule, and performance targets.
Lead cross-functional design reviews and gate approvals, and drive timely execution of development programs.
Provide technical leadership for design and product architecture.
Establish design standards, engineering best practices, and development methodologies.
Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability requirements.
Oversee prototype builds and validation testing.
Lead DFMEA, risk assessments, and design verification activities.
Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and certifications, including ETL and UL.
Drive standardization initiatives across product lines and develop scalable product platforms and configurable designs.
Reduce complexity through modular design strategies and improve engineering efficiency through design reuse and standardization.
Lead, coach, and develop product development engineers and personnel.
Establish technical growth plans and succession planning; build a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
Conduct performance reviews and career development planning.
Improve development cycle times and project execution.
Establish lessons-learned processes across development programs.
Drive root cause analysis on product performance issues and implement best practices in engineering, testing, and product development.