R&D Engineering Manager

Resonetics•Hutchinson, MN

About The Position

The R&D Engineering Manager leads the R&D engineering team responsible for developing innovative manufacturing processes and technologies for precision medical device applications. The role combines engineering management, technical leadership, hands-on engineering contribution, and customer project oversight. It oversees project planning, development, and implementation; cross-departmental collaboration; resource allocation; team development; customer communications; and lab operations, with responsibility for meeting site metrics related to on-time project delivery, quality, and resource management. The manager provides technical direction on complex engineering challenges and new manufacturing capabilities, including technologies where established processes may not exist. The role leads and develops staff, manages project and departmental performance, collaborates with customers and internal and external stakeholders, and supports the transition of developed products, processes, and technologies into manufacturing. Occasional domestic travel may be required. The anticipated compensation range is $125,000–$155,000, based on experience and qualifications. Candidates must already be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.

Requirements

At least 8 years of relevant engineering experience, including significant involvement in new product development, manufacturing process development, advanced engineering, or related technical development activities.
Proven track record leading cross-functional or multidisciplinary teams and driving multiple complex projects to completion.
Strong leadership and team management abilities, including mentoring others and establishing priorities.
Ability to balance multiple projects, priorities, and leadership responsibilities.
Demonstrated ability to develop innovative technical solutions to complex or unfamiliar engineering challenges.
Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to understand, evaluate, and contribute to technical discussions across multiple engineering disciplines.
Strong experimental problem-solving, analytical, and data interpretation skills.
Ability to investigate poorly defined technical problems, develop appropriate strategies, and use engineering principles and experimental results to develop practical solutions.
Ability to collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Sales, NPI, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
Excellent problem-solving skills, including troubleshooting complex technical issues.
Excellent communication skills with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external customers.
Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field; a science degree or equivalent experience is also acceptable.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience in medical device or high-precision manufacturing.
Previous engineering management or technical team leadership experience, including mentoring and developing engineering personnel.
Experience with direct personnel supervision, performance management, recruiting, and employee development.
Experience developing new manufacturing processes or technologies when established manufacturing methods were not readily available.
Experience with relevant manufacturing technologies such as chemical processing, metal etching, plating, metal forming, laser processing, precision assembly, adhesive processing, automated inspection, or manufacturing automation.
Experience developing or implementing custom manufacturing equipment, automation systems, inspection systems, or other new manufacturing capabilities.
Experience with design of experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, process characterization, engineering testing, and data-driven problem-solving.
Experience identifying new technologies and coordinating internal resources, equipment suppliers, integrators, programmers, or other external technical resources to implement new capabilities.
Experience preparing technical development quotations, estimating engineering resource requirements, managing project schedules, and supporting departmental business objectives.
Experience leading technical discussions and development programs directly with customers.
Advanced degree in engineering, science, business, or a related discipline, including an MBA.
Preferred undergraduate disciplines include Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, or Manufacturing Engineering.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop the engineering team; establish priorities and support professional growth.
Allocate engineering resources to balance team capacity, project demands, and business objectives.
Foster collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, technical innovation, and knowledge sharing within the lab.
Manage employee performance, conduct evaluations, address performance issues, and provide recommendations regarding compensation and career development.
Lead recruiting and selection activities for interns and co-op engineers and participate in engineering staffing evaluations and hiring decisions.
Troubleshoot complex technical issues and serve as a technical resource for the engineering team.
Collaborate across functions on process improvements and development of new technologies and approaches.
Support development involving chemical processing, metal etching and forming, precision assembly, laser processing, automated inspection, automation, and other advanced manufacturing methods.
Identify opportunities for new technology, equipment, automation, inspection, or analytical methods and lead initiatives from concept and feasibility through implementation.
Coordinate internal technical resources, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and subject matter experts to develop and implement new capabilities.
Encourage disciplined experimentation, technical documentation, knowledge sharing, and data-driven decision-making.
Oversee lab projects, including planning, prioritization, resource allocation, execution, and communication of progress.
Communicate project status, deliverables, and issues to customers and senior leadership.
Lead customer technical discussions and communicate development risks and technical findings.
Provide technical and project leadership for complex customer development programs, including programs with substantial technical uncertainty or multidisciplinary challenges.
Oversee customer development quotations, including feasibility evaluations, resource requirements, development approach, schedules, and project plans.
Support Sales and senior leadership in evaluating customer opportunities, defining technical approaches, and developing solutions to challenging requirements.
Coordinate cross-functional resources, including those outside the manager's direct reporting organization, to accomplish project objectives.
Collaborate with NPI, Production Engineering, Quality, Operations, and other departments to transition developed products, processes, and technologies into manufacturing.
Identify technical and schedule risks and communicate issues requiring customer or organizational decisions.
Monitor departmental performance against schedules, resource requirements, and established metrics; communicate updates to site and senior leadership.
Support resource planning, workload prioritization, staffing evaluations, and longer-term capability planning.
Drive continuous improvement in processes, project execution, and use of resources.
Identify capital equipment and technology needs and develop technical justifications for investments.
Manage departmental expenses within authorization limits and contribute to budgeting and capital planning.
Balance customer commitments, engineering capacity, technical risk, and business priorities when setting departmental priorities.
Participate in cross-site engineering initiatives and support development, adoption, and sharing of technical capabilities across the organization.