Manager NPI

R&D Engineering Manager - PolyJet 3D Printing Business Unit

• As a member of the PolyJet 3D printing business unit, the R&D Engineering Manager is responsible for managing both the New Product Introduction (NPI) and Current Product Engineering (CPE) teams, comprising five engineers.

Leadership & Management Skills

• Proven ability to lead and develop engineering teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to mentor and coach team members for professional growth.
• Drive reduction in time-to-market for new products.
• Improve production yield and reduce cost through engineering initiatives.

NPI Responsibilities

• Coordinate and participate with local and international R&D teams on design for manufacturability (DFM) and implementation of new products in the production line.
• Monitor and collaborate with R&D project managers, system engineers, and designers to optimize designs for operational needs.
• Optimize and manage design changes for contract manufacturing and full turnkey solutions (Design for Excellence - DFX).
• Manage and oversee turnkey activities for system and subunit assembly, both locally and internationally.
• Conduct Engineering Change Order (ECO) processes to ensure system quality, manufacturability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage subcontractors for assembly lines and mechanical/electromechanical parts manufacturing.
• Define product integration processes and ensure alignment with production capabilities.
• Own the creation and maintenance of product documentation, including Product/Production files, Bill of Materials (BOM), jigs, and tool designs.
• Develop workflows and protocols; provide tactical direction and support for NPI and mechanical engineering programs.
• Lead, manage, and execute First Article Inspection (FAI) processes for new products and assemblies.
• Represent Engineering at Product Lifecycle Management (PLCM) gates and product management forums.

CPE Responsibilities

• Improve quality, reliability, and serviceability by redesigning sub-units of existing systems.
• Design new jigs and fixtures to enhance current product performance and manufacturability.
• Lead cost-reduction initiatives through hardware redesigns.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for field support of current products.
• Support revitalization and enhancement of existing products.
• Manage End-of-Life (EOL) and second-source qualification activities.
• Coordinate and collaborate with local and international R&D teams on DFM and implementation of existing products in production.
• Work closely with R&D project managers, system engineers, and designers to optimize designs for operational efficiency.
• Optimize and manage design changes for contract manufacturing and full turnkey solutions (DFX).
• Provide ongoing support to production lines and customer support teams, including escalation management.
• Lead, manage, and execute FAI processes for updated assemblies.
• Serve as the technical liaison between Operations and R&D teams (Software, Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering).

Essential Education, Skills, and Experience

• BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering – required; MSc in Mechanical or Systems Engineering – preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in mechanical design or R&D engineering roles.
• Demonstrated experience in mechanical or production engineering.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to build and maintain effective cross-functional relationships.
• Proven ability to present technical information and communicate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and environments.
• Experience with manufacturing technologies such as plastic molding, extrusion, casting, etc. – preferred.
• Proven experience leading DFX processes.
• Proficiency in CAD software – SolidWorks preferred.
• Experience with Product Data Management (PDM) / Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools – Agile preferred.