Job description

The Senior Mechanical Engineering Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Mechanical Engineering function. Reporting to the DVP of Engineering, this position is responsible for engineering talent development, technical governance, organizational capability, product architecture, and mechanical engineering execution across new product development and sustaining engineering activities. The role combines functional leadership responsibilities with hands-on technical engagement, providing both organizational leadership and engineering expertise in support of product development and lifecycle initiatives. The role is accountable for building a high-performing engineering organization, advancing engineering excellence, and ensuring successful execution of strategic product and technology initiatives. The successful candidate will establish engineering standards, develop future leaders, and drive the continuous improvement of products, processes, and organizational effectiveness while aligning engineering priorities with business objectives and customer needs. Key Responsibilities: Mechanical Engineering Leadership • Lead and develop the Mechanical Engineering organization to support business objectives, product strategy, and engineering excellence. • Build organizational capability through recruiting, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development. • Establish engineering standards, methodologies, and best practices across the function. • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Product Development & Technical Leadership • Provide technical leadership and oversight for new product development, sustaining engineering, and strategic technology initiatives. • Lead design reviews and provide guidance on complex engineering challenges involving product performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and serviceability. • Ensure the application of sound engineering principles, risk management practices, and design verification methodologies. • Remain actively engaged in technical activities to support engineering teams and critical business priorities. Engineering Execution & Operational Excellence • Ensure successful execution of engineering projects through effective resource allocation, prioritization, and risk management. • Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, systems, and performance metrics. • Improve engineering change management, product data management, configuration control, and development workflows. • Support efficient product transitions from concept development through production and lifecycle support. Product Architecture & Technology Strategy • Provide leadership for mechanical system architecture and long-term technology direction. • Promote scalable, modular, and serviceable product designs that support business growth and operational efficiency. • Evaluate emerging technologies, engineering methods, and industry trends to improve product competitiveness. Business & Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner with Product Management, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Service, Laboratory Services, and Commercial teams to achieve business objectives. • Support strategic planning, investment decisions, and engineering resource planning. • Communicate technical concepts and recommendations effectively to leadership, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. Compliance, Quality & Safety • Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and quality requirements. • Champion engineering quality through design reviews, risk assessments, root cause analysis, and corrective action initiatives. • Promote safe engineering practices and a culture of product quality and reliability. • Perform other duties as assigned Requirements: • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline from an accredited institution. • Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred. • 15+ years of progressive engineering experience in product development, engineering leadership, or related technical roles. • 7+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams, technical organizations, or engineering functions. • Demonstrated success leading engineering organizations through organizational growth, product development, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Experience developing engineering talent, succession plans, and future technical leaders. • Experience managing engineering resources, priorities, and organizational performance across multiple concurrent initiatives. • Experience leading geographically distributed engineering teams preferred. • Experience supporting product development within industrial equipment, instrumentation, electromechanical systems, laboratory equipment, environmental simulation systems, or similar industries. • Demonstrated expertise in mechanical product development including requirements development, design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and production release. • Strong understanding of machine design, materials selection, thermal systems, fluid systems, structural design, manufacturing processes, and reliability engineering. • Proficiency with modern 3D CAD systems and engineering documentation practices. • Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis, engineering drawings, and product configuration management. • Experience creating and reviewing engineering drawings, assemblies, bills of materials, and product documentation. • Experience with engineering change management, product lifecycle management, and ERP/MRP systems. • Experience applying engineering analysis methods including FEA, CFD, thermal analysis, and validation testing. • Experience leading design reviews and evaluating engineering solutions for technical, manufacturing, serviceability, quality, and cost considerations. • Ability to personally contribute to engineering activities when required while maintaining primary leadership responsibilities. • Familiarity with product safety, CE requirements, IEC standards, certification programs, and regulatory compliance activities. • Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-marking, work quality, and to reduce costs. The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.

Requirements

Must-haves

Mechanical Engineering Leadership
Lead and develop the Mechanical Engineering organization to support business objectives, product strategy, and engineering excellence.
Build organizational capability through recruiting, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
Establish engineering standards, methodologies, and best practices across the function.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Product Development & Technical Leadership
Provide technical leadership and oversight for new product development, sustaining engineering, and strategic technology initiatives.
Lead design reviews and provide guidance on complex engineering challenges involving product performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and serviceability.
Ensure the application of sound engineering principles, risk management practices, and design verification methodologies.
Remain actively engaged in technical activities to support engineering teams and critical business priorities.
Engineering Execution & Operational Excellence
Ensure successful execution of engineering projects through effective resource allocation, prioritization, and risk management.
Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, systems, and performance metrics.
Improve engineering change management, product data management, configuration control, and development workflows.
Support efficient product transitions from concept development through production and lifecycle support.
Product Architecture & Technology Strategy
Provide leadership for mechanical system architecture and long-term technology direction.
Promote scalable, modular, and serviceable product designs that support business growth and operational efficiency.
Evaluate emerging technologies, engineering methods, and industry trends to improve product competitiveness.
Business & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Product Management, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Service, Laboratory Services, and Commercial teams to achieve business objectives.
Support strategic planning, investment decisions, and engineering resource planning.

Nice-to-haves

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
Experience leading geographically distributed engineering teams preferred.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

Platform: successfactors
Effort: medium