We, at Leggett & Platt Inc., are searching for a Director of Product Engineering within our Product Development team to help support our Work Furniture business. Our Work Furniture business brings an intense focus on the customer, innovation, world-class manufacturing capabilities, and a global footprint together to create full package solutions for the industry. We do not make furniture. We make furniture more comfortable. We need the best people on our team to support our strategy, and your work will ensure people around the world have a little more comfort in their lives.
As a Director of Product Engineering, you will lead a global engineering team accountable for product design, development and launch, operations integration, and field sales technical support. You will use your passion for innovation with a continuous learning mindset and willingness to explore new technologies, processes, and methodologies to contribute to the success of the business, The team you will be working with is innovative and values challenging work while empowering and supporting each other to reach their full potential.
So what will you be doing as a Director of Product Engineering?
- Develop and implement the engineering department's strategic vision, goals, and objectives in alignment with the company's and WFG business unit’s overall strategy.
- Supervise the planning, execution, and delivery of engineering projects, ensuring they are completed within budget and on schedule.
- Own and / or support team’s ownership of end-to-end technical customer engagements from pre-RFQ phase through production ramp up phase and ongoing technical support.
- Effectively collaborate with cross functional teams both within the BU as well as in other L&P BUs for project execution, best practices, leveraging resources, etc.
- Allocate resources and manage project risks to ensure successful outcomes.
- Establish and track milestones across all active engineering projects and customer programs and manage technical resources to meet those objectives using established NPD process.
- Monitor project progress, identify potential roadblocks, and proactively implement corrective actions.
- Ensure product solutions meet design criteria of internal and / or customer teams.
- Foster environment that drives the level of detail and responsiveness customers require.
- Develop near and long-term plans for continuous improvement that will increase engineering productivity and effectiveness via standardization, advanced methods/technologies, tools, and processes.
- Accountable for people management of global engineering teams including recruitment, hiring, managing, and developing.
- Drive People First culture and work environment into the DNA of the PD&L teams.
- Foster proactive, continuous improvement, and growth mindset culture for global team.
- Provide technical direction and growth opportunities to members of engineering team and serve as professional skill mentor and coach.
- Provide technical direction to internal and external customers.
- Become BU expert in key compliance areas such as BIFMA, sustainability, etc.
- Support cross-functional efforts in Voice of the Customer research, concept validation, technical sales presentations, trade shows, and internal product training.
- Continuously evaluate engineering processes and metrics to track and measure engineering success.
- Support efforts to create and maintain a WFG BU innovation pipeline.
- Contribute to the development of the innovation strategy and technical roadmap, guided by market and customer research. Partner with the R&D team and other L&P BUs for new technology development and introduction.
- Serve as a contact point for internal and external customers. Foster environment that builds strong partnerships.
- Deliver product and platform development roadmaps in collaboration with Category Management team for business unit product portfolio.
- Establish technical design strategy and implement plans in conjunction with VP of Innovation strategy and WFG leadership.
- Drive intellectual property activity to protect new innovations and optimize patent related investments.
- Partner with corporate legal resources to accomplish.
To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
• 10+ years of product or manufacturing engineering experience; preferred experience in design work, new product development, project management and/or similar space
• 5+ years of cross-functional team leadership experience, either direct or in a matrixed environment. Global and / or dispersed team leadership experience preferred.
• 5+ years of new product development and launch experience which included utilization of project management techniques, standardized new product development process, project management strategies, KPIs, quality metrics, etc. Preferably in manufactured product environment (plastic injection molding, metal fabrication, die cast, etc.)
• Experience leading technical teams tasked with translating design requests into actionable, technical requirements; people management required (either direct or matrixed)
• Experience working with suppliers on component and system development, quality plans, PPAP process, etc.
What to Do Next
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about us, what are you waiting for! Apply today and allow us the opportunity to learn more about you and the value you can bring to our team. Once you apply, be sure to create a profile, and sign up for job alerts, so you can be the first to know when new opportunities become available.
Our Values
Our values speak to our shared beliefs, and describe how we approach working together.
Put People First reflects our commitment to safety and care of each other, learning and development, and creating an inclusive environment of mutual respect, empathy and belonging.
Do the Right Thing focuses us on acting with honesty and integrity, delivering the results the right way, taking pride in our work, and speaking the truth – good or bad.
Do Great Work…Together occurs when we engage without hierarchy, collaborate as a team, embrace challenges, and work for the good of all of us.
Take Ownership and Raise the Bar demonstrates our responsibility to add value and make a difference, challenge the status quo and biases to make things better, foster innovative and creative solutions to drive impact, and explore new perspectives and embrace change.
Our Commitment to You
We're actively taking steps to make sure our culture is inclusive and that our processes and practices promote equity for all. Leggett & Platt is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veteran status, and more. Join us!
We welcome and encourage applications if you meet the minimum qualifications. Even if you do not meet the preferred qualifications, we’d love the opportunity to consider you.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veteran/Disability Employer
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