Description Product Engineering Manager
Position Overview The Product Engineering Manager leads DMA Industries’ Product Engineering Team while directly managing the development and lifecycle of assigned product lines. This role is responsible for coordinating product engineering activities between DMA and its global manufacturing partners, ensuring products meet established performance specifications, quality standards, cost targets, and development timelines.
The Product Engineering Manager oversees the execution and continuous improvement of DMA’s product development processes, including design reviews, prototype development, validation and verification testing, documentation, and post-launch product improvements. This position partners closely with Global Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Quality, and other cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, reliable, and cost-effective products that meet customer expectations and support DMA’s business objectives.
Position Overview The Product Engineering Manager leads DMA Industries’ Product Engineering Team while directly managing the development and lifecycle of assigned product lines. This role is responsible for coordinating product engineering activities between DMA and its global manufacturing partners, ensuring products meet established performance specifications, quality standards, cost targets, and development timelines. The Product Engineering Manager oversees the execution and continuous improvement of DMA’s product development processes, including design reviews, prototype development, validation and verification testing, documentation, and post-launch product improvements. This position partners closely with Global Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Quality, and other cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, reliable, and cost-effective products that meet customer expectations and support DMA’s business objectives.
Why Join DMA Industries? DMA Industries is a growing supplier to the North American automotive aftermarket, working with a global network of manufacturing partners to deliver quality products across multiple vehicle and industrial applications. We offer a collaborative, performance-driven environment where innovation, continuous improvement, teamwork, and professional development are valued.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Team Leadership and Department Management
- Lead, mentor, develop, and manage the Product Engineering Team to ensure projects meet established performance specifications, quality requirements, cost targets, and development schedules.
- Establish clear departmental priorities, individual responsibilities, performance expectations, and measurable key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive global product development plan aligned with customer needs, market opportunities, business priorities, cost management, and continuous product improvement initiatives.
- Partner with the Director of Global Product Management and other functional leaders to evaluate, prioritize, and allocate resources to product development projects.
- Assign projects that encourage technical growth, strengthen product-specific expertise, and support the professional development of team members while maintaining approved budgets and timelines.
- Monitor departmental performance, project milestones, resource utilization, and development costs; identify risks and implement corrective actions as needed.
- Prepare and communicate monthly development progress updates to senior leadership, including project status, key milestones, risks, challenges, and recommendations.
- Identify and implement improvements to engineering processes, technologies, tools, and cross-functional workflows to increase efficiency, quality, and overall department performance.
- Ensure customer interactions are professional, responsive, and technically sound, reinforcing DMA’s engineering capabilities and commitment to quality.
- Work with Human Resources and department leadership to support recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, training, performance reviews, coaching, and employee development.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and applicable safety requirements while maintaining a safe, clean, and organized departmental work environment.
Product Engineering and Development
- Lead and oversee product development activities for assigned product lines, from initial concept and design reviews through prototyping, testing, qualification, launch, and post-launch improvement.
- Coordinate with global manufacturing partners to develop new products, optimize existing designs, resolve technical challenges, and achieve product performance and cost objectives.
- Conduct and oversee design verification and validation activities using engineering calculations, physical testing, design reviews, risk assessments, and other appropriate methods to confirm product form, fit, function, durability, and performance.
- Maintain accurate, current engineering drawings, product specifications, bills of materials (BOMs), and related technical documentation for assigned product lines.
- Apply appropriate engineering change controls and documentation practices to ensure product designs and specifications remain current and traceable.
- Lead and participate in regular technical reviews with manufacturing partners and DMA Product Management to evaluate designs, product optimizations, manufacturing feasibility, quality concerns, and development progress.
- Monitor competitor products, industry trends, emerging technologies, and market innovations to identify opportunities for product enhancements and new product development.
- Apply working knowledge of 2D and 3D CAD systems, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and 3D scanning to support product design, measurement, comparison, and optimization.
- Review product quality and warranty reports provided by the Warranty & Product Validation Engineer to identify recurring issues, determine potential root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
- Collaborate with the Warranty & Product Validation Engineer and other stakeholders to troubleshoot new product concerns, resolve warranty issues, improve existing products, and develop repair standard operating procedures (SOPs) when necessary.
- Apply DMA’s product development processes and relevant manufacturing methods, material analysis techniques, and testing standards across assigned product categories.
- Use appropriate design of experiments (DOE), failure analysis, and risk assessment methods to evaluate design alternatives, validate product performance, and improve product reliability.
- Balance product performance, manufacturing feasibility, quality, and cost when evaluating engineering solutions and product design changes.
- Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, and other internal teams, including product information, engineering documentation, and customer presentations as needed.
- Ensure required product development documentation and testing records are complete, accurate, and maintained throughout the product lifecycle.
Requirements
Education, Experience, and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Science, or a related engineering discipline.
- Experience in product engineering, product development, design validation, or a related technical field; experience in the automotive aftermarket or heavy-duty vehicle industry is strongly preferred.
- Prior personnel leadership or team management experience preferred.
- Working proficiency with 2D and 3D CAD software, engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, and 3D scanning applications.
- Knowledge of Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) practices.
- Experience with design of experiments, prototype development, bills of materials, product variants, and engineering change management.
- Working knowledge of suspension systems, damping design, valve construction, force and stress calculations, metallurgy, materials science, and product optimization is preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to analyze data, prepare technical reports, and present findings.
- Ability to operate laboratory equipment and related software safely and accurately.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to evaluate technical data, identify trends, investigate product issues, and recommend practical improvements.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex engineering concepts clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal departments, customers, and global manufacturing partners across different functional and cultural environments.
- Ability to prepare technical documentation, reports, and presentations for management and other stakeholders.
Language Skills
Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English. Must be able to present technical information clearly, respond professionally to questions from management and customers, and communicate engineering concepts to individuals with varying levels of technical knowledge.
Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made in accordance with applicable law to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
The position regularly requires standing, walking, sitting, manual dexterity, and written, verbal, and auditory communication. The employee may occasionally be required to lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds. Assistance or appropriate equipment should be used when necessary for heavier items or when required for safe handling. Specific vision requirements include close and distance vision. The role may involve working with laboratory equipment, product samples, and technical testing tools, as well as occasional high-pressure situations related to project deadlines and business priorities. Travel to manufacturing partners, other company locations, customer sites, or off-site meetings may be required as business needs dictate. The typical work environment has a moderate noise level, which may vary throughout the workday.
General Disclaimer and Equal Employment Opportunity This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Duties and responsibilities may be added, removed, or modified as business needs change. Nothing in this job description creates an employment contract or alters the at-will employment relationship between the employee and DMA Industries, LLC. Employment may be terminated by either the employee or the Company at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.
DMA Industries, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining qualified individuals based on their skills, qualifications, and ability to perform the job. Employment decisions are made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. DMA values a diverse workforce and is committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and professional workplace.