R&D Manager

Seakeeper Inc • Bern Township, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The R&D Manager leads Seakeeper’s early-stage research and development pipeline, turning technical ideas into tested concepts that can support the next generation of marine motion-control products. The role owns technology evaluation, rapid prototyping, proof-of-concept testing, feasibility studies, and the creation of short- and long-term technology roadmaps. It also translates validated technologies into implementation packages for Product Engineering and leads system-level technical reviews and trade-off decisions.

The manager builds and coaches a multidisciplinary engineering team of approximately six employees, establishing the technical capability and collaborative culture needed to support Seakeeper’s long-term technology strategy. The role partners across Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Management, Operations, suppliers, technology partners, and other technical leaders, and leads technical contributions to intellectual-property protection, including patents.

This is a full-time role based at Seakeeper’s Leesport, Pennsylvania facility. Employees are expected to work onsite at least four days per week, with work extending into engineering, prototype, manufacturing, supplier, and marine environments, including occasional on-water testing. The position reports to the Director of Gyro Engineering.

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, including sound judgment on technical risks, interfaces, and trade-offs.
• Experience contributing to technology or product roadmaps with a five-year or longer planning horizon.
• 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 the technical capability, ownership, and capacity needed 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.
• Foster curiosity, experimentation, collaboration, learning, and accountability while maintaining technical rigor.
• Lead technical contributions to intellectual-property protection, such as patents.
• Participate in engineering, prototype, manufacturing, supplier, and marine environments, including occasional on-water testing.

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.
• Seakeeper contributes 3% of base wages to the employee’s 401(k), 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.

What This Job Offers

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