R&D Manager

Seakeeper Inc • Leesport, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Seakeeper is hiring an R&D Manager to lead early-stage research and development for marine motion-control products. The role owns the early-stage technology pipeline, develops and coaches a multidisciplinary engineering team, and establishes the technical foundation for promising technologies to move into product development. The manager will develop short- and long-term R&D strategies and technology roadmaps, evaluate emerging technologies and materials, and guide prototyping, proof-of-concept testing, and feasibility studies to reduce technical and commercial uncertainty. The role also translates validated technologies into implementation packages for Product Engineering, leads system-level technical reviews and trade-off decisions, builds cross-functional and external partnerships, and leads technical contributions to intellectual property protection.

The position is based at Seakeeper's Leesport, Pennsylvania facility and is expected to be onsite at least four days per week. Work extends into engineering, prototype, manufacturing, supplier, and marine environments and may include on-water testing. The R&D Manager joins the Gyro Engineering organization, reports to the Director of Gyro Engineering, and leads an approximately six-person team across multiple engineering disciplines.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field, at least seven years of relevant innovation, R&D, technology-development, and/or product-development experience, and experience in project ownership or engineering management and people leadership or technical mentoring. A master's degree and experience with mechatronic and/or hydraulic systems are preferred.

Seakeeper offers competitive compensation and benefits, including semi-annual bonuses, performance-based annual increases, paid time off and holidays, a 401(k) contribution, medical, dental, and vision coverage, company-paid life and disability coverage, voluntary benefits including pet insurance, an opt-out stipend for employees covered by another health plan, tuition reimbursement, and job-related learning opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, systems engineering, electrical engineering, or another closely related technical field.
• At least 7 years of experience in innovation, research and development, technology development, and/or product development.
• At least 2 years of project ownership or engineering management experience.
• At least 2 years of people leadership or technical mentoring experience.
• Senior-level, system-level product design capability and sound judgment regarding technical risks, interfaces, and trade-offs.
• Experience contributing to technology or product roadmaps with a planning horizon of five years or longer.
• Hands-on experience with feasibility studies, proof-of-concept testing, rapid prototyping, technical reviews, and engineering documentation.
• Experience communicating project timelines, risks, goals, and budgets.
• Experience developing technical content for patents and intellectual property protection.
• Proficiency with engineering analysis and calculation tools, CAD and product-documentation systems, and prototype and test equipment.
• Ability to align senior technical contributors, reach practical compromises, and explain complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work in engineering, prototype, manufacturing, supplier, and marine environments while using required PPE.
• Ability to participate in on-water testing and move throughout Seakeeper facilities and test environments as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree.
• Experience with mechatronic and/or hydraulic systems.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks, Microsoft 365, Wrike, and NetSuite.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary R&D engineering team, building technical capability, ownership, and capacity for Seakeeper's long-term technology strategy.
• Own the early-stage technology pipeline and evaluate emerging technologies, materials, and opportunities against technical, market, and business criteria.
• Drive rapid prototyping, proof-of-concept testing, and feasibility studies to reduce technical and commercial uncertainty.
• Create and maintain short- and long-term R&D strategies and technology roadmaps aligned with company growth priorities and future product capabilities.
• Translate validated technologies into implementation packages that Product Engineering can use to advance concepts toward reliable product solutions.
• Lead system-level technical reviews and trade-off decisions, using data to identify risks, resolve disagreements, and establish next steps.
• Build partnerships across Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Management, Operations, suppliers, and technology partners.
• Promote a culture of curiosity, experimentation, collaboration, learning, and accountability while maintaining technical rigor.
• Lead technical contributions to intellectual property protection, including patents.

Benefits

• Semi-annual bonuses tied to company growth and employee tenure.
• Performance-based annual increases.
• At least three weeks of paid time off, with additional PTO added annually based on tenure.
• Paid holidays.
• Company 401(k) contribution equal to 3% of base wages, whether or not the employee contributes.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Company-paid life and disability coverage.
• Voluntary benefits, including pet insurance.
• Opt-out stipend for employees whose health benefits are covered by another plan.
• Tuition reimbursement options and job-related learning opportunities.
• Competitive compensation based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager