The Product Development and Validation Manager will be part of a strategic team of professionals developing major product lines for OEM Customers within the Automotive, Truck, Heavy Vehicles, Bus, Motorhome, Off Road Vehicle, Construction Equipment and other vehicle markets.

Job Description:

Position should demonstrate a professional and consistent approach to support the company’s culture, mission, values, philosophy, and policies and procedures. Including:

• Compliance with company’s policies and procedures.
• Contributing to a harmonious working environment, and maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, management, individuals, outside agencies, and others with whom the Product Validation and Development Manager may come in contact

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the Product Validation and Development department using recognized industry standards and methodologies. Oversee all activities under Compliance, Lighting, Systems/ Wire Harness, and Turn Signal Switch groups within the department.
• Manage a professional staff in support of various product development and research activities including the development of laboratory testing procedures, fixtures and test equipment to simulate actual field environments; the performance of field studies and tests to develop a database of photometric, heat transfer and electrical/electronic design constraints; the performance of assigned electrical, photometric and mechanical tests on products and processes; provide technical assistance to Engineering and Sales.
• Oversee and manage field test activities - travel as required.
• Oversee department’s activities regarding the set-up and completion of electrical, photometric, and mechanical due care laboratory tests to confirm compliance of existing products to set standards; completion of FMVSS-108 testing; warranty product return examination and analysis; equipment calibration and maintenance; and failure analysis.
• Oversee department’s involvement with New Product Introduction (NPI) process; the recording of data and issuing of product testing and certification reports on all Company products.
• Direct and coordinate activities of New Product Introduction (NPI) Development Validation (DV) and Product Validation (PV) testing to assure that testing plans are completed on time, meet customer expectations while assuring compliance to TS requirements. Assure team member awareness of priorities, schedules, and critical issues relating to projects.
• Oversee the maintenance and proper calibration of equipment and facilities in support of the development of new and existing products.
• Monitor Industry, State, Federal, and International Standards to assure our products are meeting or exceeding these standards.
• Support/participate in general industry associations including Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), American Trucking Association (ATA), Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), Transportation Safety Equipment Institute (TSEI), etc. Support/monitor and develop expertise in various regulatory compliance matters under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 108) and UNECE / ECE (Economic Commission for Europe), in conjunction with other members of the company Technology teams.
• Monitor product technology changes (such as Electrification, Connected Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles, Adaptive Driving Beam Headlamps) and assure departmental readiness to support product and technology validation in terms of departmental skillsets, equipment, and development of relationships with outside test facilities.
• Manage the operating and capital budgets of the lab to ensure proper use of resources.
• Manage the department’s Due Care and NCR database.
• Understand corporate needs/capabilities to best utilize resources.
• Develop relationships with outside test facilities
• Demonstrate/present Laboratory capabilities to customers.
• Manage the department’s continuous improvement efforts.
• Maintain, track and report on key Product Validation and Development metrics.
• Coach/mentor, direct and train other Product Validation and Development Department employees.
• Respond to customer requests for regulation interpretation and certification documents
• Direct Reports: Development Technologists, Validation Engineers, Validation / Due Care Technician.
• Support any other activities, duties, or responsibilities as directed.

Requirements:

• Requires 4-year degree in engineering (Electronic, Mechanical, Plastics) or similar field.
• Experience with new product development, testing, validation and launch in a Management Role.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Laboratory/Test Environment, within a manufacturing operation
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Expertise in Product Compliance and Development