Engineering Design Assurance Manager

Job Duties

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Engineering Design Assurance Manager - Plymouth, MN - Hybrid

Daikin Applied is seeking an Engineering Design Assurance Manager who will lead the Design Assurance (DA) function to ensure product quality is designed into products from concept through launch. The Manager will own design risk identification, assessment, and reduction by driving requirements quality, design robustness, validation effectiveness, and readiness for manufacturing. They will act as an embedded engineering partner to influence design decisions and ensure products meet performance, reliability, and compliance expectations at launch-not by inspection, but by shaping the design itself.

Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location:Hybrid - Plymouth, MN

Your Responsibilities:

Compliance (Gate Discipline) - Enable Quality Decisions

Drive execution of NPI gate processes (DDR, ORR, BCRR) to ensure decisions are based on objective evidence

Ensure deliverables are complete, accurate, and reflect true risk status-not checklist compliance

Surface risks, gaps, and mitigation plans to support informed go/no-go decisions

Act as a decision support partner for quality readiness, not a downstream gate inspector

Requirements Quality (Upstream Alignment) - Own "What Good Looks Like"

Own requirements quality across programs, ensuring clarity, completeness, testability, and traceability

Establish and enforce linkage between customer needs, system requirements, and engineering specifications

Implement closed-loop feedback mechanisms (e.g., HQR) from validation, manufacturing, and field performance into requirements

Ensure requirements are fully integrated into DFMEA and validation planning

Design Robustness (Engineering Design Quality) - Own Design Risk

Own DFMEA quality, completeness, and effectiveness across all programs

Ensure system understanding through boundary diagrams, interface analysis, and functional composition

Lead identification, prioritization, and mitigation of design risks before design freeze

Challenge assumptions, failure modes, and engineering trade-offs to improve robustness

Drive use of modeling, simulation, and analytical methods to reduce risk early in development

Validation Effectiveness (Prove It Works) - Own Evidence of Performance

Own validation strategy and ensure alignment to requirements and identified risks

Ensure DVP&R provides adequate coverage of critical requirements, use conditions, and failure modes

Evaluate validation results to confirm product performance, reliability, and safety

Drive closure of validation gaps prior to key decision points

Ensure validation demonstrates real-world use conditions, not just lab compliance

Manufacturing Readiness (Execution Risk) - Ensure Design Transfers Cleanly

Ensure alignment between design intent and manufacturing controls (PFMEA, Control Plans)

Partner with Operations and Quality to confirm critical risks are mitigated prior to launch

Support pilot builds, ECS/MCS, and Safe Launch activities to validate production readiness

Ensure learning from manufacturing and field issues is driven back into design and requirements

Cross-Functional Leadership

Embed within engineering teams to influence design decisions from concept through launch

Partner with Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to align on risk and performance expectations

Drive accountability for design quality across teams-not centralized within Design Assurance

Lead structured, risk-based discussions in design and readiness reviews

Metrics & Continuous Improvement

Define and manage leading indicators tied to:

Requirements quality

DFMEA effectiveness (risk identification and closure)

Validation coverage and gap closure

Launch readiness risk

Use data to proactively identify design risks and drive early corrective actions

Continuously improve Design Assurance methods, tools, and integration into NPI processes

Your Qualifications:

Bachelor' s Degree in Engineering, or a related technical discipline

6+ years of experience in product development, design engineering, or design assurance roles

4+ years leading teams or enterprise-level initiatives

Design & Risk Ownership

Deep expertise in DFMEA, system-level risk analysis, and failure mode identification

Ability to drive risk-based decision-making and ensure risks are actively reduced-not just documented

Strong understanding of system architecture, interfaces, and failure mechanisms

Requirements & Systems Thinking

Expertise in requirements definition, decomposition, and traceability (customer system component validation)

Ability to assess requirements for clarity, completeness, and testability

Experience implementing closed-loop learning systems (e.g., HQR, field feedback into requirements)

Validation & Verification Rigor

Deep knowledge of validation strategy development and DVP&R construction

Ability to assess test coverage relative to requirements and identified risks

Experience evaluating validation results against real-world use conditions

Strong understanding of verification vs. validation and their role in design assurance

Engineering Influence & Decision-Making

Demonstrated ability to challenge engineering assumptions and influence design trade-offs

Skilled in facilitating risk-based design discussions and driving accountability

Ability to operate as a peer to engineering leaders-not an external auditor

Manufacturing & Product Realization

Working knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, and production risk mitigation

Understanding of how design decisions impact manufacturability, variability, and field performance

Ability to bridge design intent into production execution

Data & Analytical Capability

Strong analytical skills to interpret data, identify patterns, and drive proactive risk reduction

Experience defining and using leading indicators tied to design quality and program risk

Ability to translate technical risk into clear, actionable insights for leadership

Quality Systems & Standards

Strong knowledge of design control frameworks and quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ASHRAE, UL, ASME)

Understanding of how regulatory and compliance requirements translate into design constraints

Leadership & Change Management

Proven ability to drive cultural change toward designing in quality vs. inspecting it

Strong cross-functional leadership and influence skills in a matrixed organization

Ability to scale consistent Design Assurance practices across multiple programs

Your Benefits:

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance

401K retirement plan with employer match

Paid time off and company paid holidays

Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law

Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from$100,800 - $171,700 plus a 15% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which these positions fall. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied!

Equal Opportunity Employment: It is the policy of Daikin Applied to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, marital status, membership or activity in a local commission, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Minimum Education Required

Bachelor Degree

Minimum Experience Required

6 - 20 years

Shift

First (Day)

Number of Openings

1

Public Transportation Accessible

Yes

Veterans Encouraged to Apply

No

Physical Required

Yes

Drug Test Required

Yes

Compensation

$11.41 / Hourly

Postal Code

55441

Job Type

Full Time

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

R003887

Job Benefits

Not specified