Engineering Manager

Warn Automotive, part of Vehicle Service Group is a world leader in driveline disconnect technology. Our heritage comes from making WWII surplus Jeeps easier to drive on the road with the first unlocking hubs. We continue today by making disconnects for cars, trucks, and SUVs around the world. These trusted technologies come from years of innovation and listening to our customer's needs. We have a bright future ahead so come join our growing team at Warn Automotive.

Company Overview:

Warn Automotive can trace its beginning back to 1948, when Arthur Warn invented the first disconnecting four-wheel-drive hub for surplus World War II vehicles. Since that time, our products have continued to lead the industry with a history of innovation in Powertrain Disconnect technology.

Almost 75 years later, our products are sold to OEMs around the world, enhancing the performance, traction and capability of their vehicles while reducing fuel consumption and emissions to create a more mobile and efficient future.

Operating from our headquarters and manufacturing facility in Milwaukie, Oregon and our customer support center in Livonia, Michigan, Warn Automotive is proud to be part of Vehicle Service Group (VSG) a Dover Company.

Position Summary: 

With a focus on New Product Introduction, Product Sustaining Engineering, and Process Improvement, the Engineering Manager provides career development, resource management, and project leadership to engineers and other technical team members. Possessing excellence in leadership, product engineering, and collaborative teamwork, the Engineering Manager may participate in establishing business vision, strategy, and direct contribution to Warn Automotive’s product development process (or customer specific process), in consistency with Warn Automotive’s core values and policies. The Engineering Manager is accountable to the Director of Engineering for all matters related to their assigned business.

The Engineering Manager must be a coach and a mentor, who utilizes collaboration and influence to achieve successful outcomes.  They must demonstrate the ability to break down and delegate tasks to leverage the full capacity of the engineering team. Accountability for team performance resides with the Engineering Manager and they must accomplish business objectives through leadership, execution, and team development.

Essential Job Functions Include:

• Provide leadership and strategy to ensure the success of the organization through product design, implementation, and sustaining activities.
• Develops and manages departmental budget.
• Responsible for products conformance with customer requirements and specifications.
• Responsible for all parts of the product design and development process including innovation, design, analysis, testing, planning, implementation, and problem solving.
• Responsible for effective communication and collaboration with all parts of the organization to achieve successful product launches, speedy resolution of issues, and business objectives.
• Responsible for the Engineering Change Notification system and the timely completion of tasks across the organization.
• Identifies and implements improvements to existing processes and methodologies with a constant focus on continuous improvement.
• Responsible for product warranty system, including timely root cause resolution, analysis of warranty data, mitigation of warranty costs, and compliance with customer warranty system requirements.
• Responsible for implementation of product design enhancements to meet productivity goals.
• Responsible for team performance and review process, goal setting, goal attainment, and performance management.
• Provides information regarding workload status, schedules, and quality metrics via written reports and presentations.
• Accountable for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance in assigned area.  Responsible for design and operating effectiveness of internal controls, including self-assessment and report to management.
• Accountable for developing and monitoring processes and practices necessary for legal and ethical compliance in assigned areas.
• Work safely and without injury.
• Responsible for prompt and regular attendance as scheduled.
• Performs other various duties as may be assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required.
• Master’s degree in engineering or business is strongly preferred.
• Eight or more years of experience in a manufacturing environment encompassing all phases of engineering from concept realization through prototype build, evaluation, and volume production implementation.
• Five or more years of experience in providing direct or project leadership for engineers and/or other technically skilled individuals.
• Three or more years’ experience in automotive vehicle or parts manufacturing industry is strongly preferred.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the typical design input quality tools, e.g. Design FMEA, DFA/M, VA/VE. Ability to perform Return on Investment (ROI) analysis. General understanding of sources of variation and the effect of variation on sample populations. Must have strong mathematical skills equivalent to those required under education and/or experience.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, internet, and computer-aided design and drafting. Thorough familiarity with a wide variety of manufacturing processes including prototyping and rapid prototyping techniques.
• Strong oral and written communication skills commensurate with the job tasks and position necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers while providing exceptional quality of work and outstanding customer service. Ability to present information in a manner designed to educate or inform other team members and customers in one-on-one or group interactions as directed.
• Ability to review, comprehend, interpret, process and evaluate effectively written work instructions and procedures written in English in conjunction with the performance of the essential functions and other assigned job duties.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills including ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced work environment while maintaining a calm, rational and respectful demeanor and communication style in times of stress occasioned by work demands, tight timelines, heavy production expectations, unexpected quality control issues, and other work-related issues or concerns that may cause a heightened level of anxiety, frustration, anger, disappointment, confusion, etc.
• Strong technical, troubleshooting, problem solving, research, organizational and analytical skills, combined with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet established deadlines.  Ability to multitask is also essential while remaining flexible with changing priorities and deadlines. 
• Well-reasoned decision making with a high attention to detail regarding organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to ensure tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
• Highly ethical, self-motivated individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, as well as cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits.

Benefits & Perks:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision start on day one of hire
• Fertility Treatment Coverage
• 10 Paid Holidays and a Generous Vacation Policy
• 401(k) with Employer Matching, Profit Sharing, and Annual Contributions
• Bonus Plans
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Employee Discount Programs
• Career Growth, including Onsite Training and Tuition Reimbursement

Work Culture:

At Warn Automotive, we not only respect diversity, we actively seek it. We have a culture that promotes continuous improvement for our products and our people. We provide learning opportunities to help you take your skills to the next level. We value innovation, integrity and ownership in exceeding the high bar we set for ourselves in delivering for our customers.

The characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties that may be required for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this or similar positions and additional duties may be assigned.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Work Arrangement : Onsite

We consider several job-related, non-discriminatory factors when determining the pay rate for a position, including, but not limited to, the position’s responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, a candidate’s education/training, the position’s location, and the key skills needed for the position.  Pay is one of the Total Rewards that we provide to compensate and recognize employees for their work.

Benefits: Benefits for this position include: a 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions; medical, dental and vision insurance; wellness programs; health savings account, health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts; company paid short-term disability and long-term disability; company paid employee basic life and AD&D insurance; supplemental employee and dependent life insurance; optional accident, hospital indemnity and critical illness insurance; adoption, surrogacy, and fertility benefits and assistance; commuter benefits; parental, military, jury duty, and bereavement leaves of absence; paid time off, including 10 paid holidays per calendar year, paid vacation days beginning at 80 hours annually, 40 paid sick leave hours annually or as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws; tuition assistance ;business travel services; employee discounts; and an employee assistance program that includes company paid counseling sessions and legal services. Eligibility for benefits is governed by applicable plan documents and policies.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other factors prohibited by law.

Job Function : #LI-SB1