Director, Engineering Lighting and User Interface

Company: Methode Electronics
Location: Southfield
Posted on: May 29, 2023

Job Description:

The Director of Engineering over Lighting and User Interface is responsible for all aspects of product engineering, design, and development. This role directs all exterior lighting, interior lighting and user interface engineering disciplines to ensure flawless product launches. Additionally, this role is responsible for all technical elements to accurately quote and secure new business awards. This role helps develop the manufacturing requirements and strategies to grow both revenue and profit. The ideal candidate possesses a deep background in lighting and user interface in automotive, commercial truck and power sports markets with a solid business and financial acumen.

Position Responsibilities:

• All aspects of product engineering and launch including pre-RFQ advanced development, RFQ bill of material, customer technical design reviews and design/development from award to end of product life
• Instill product development engineering discipline including Methode's PDPLS global development process, reuse of design standards/guidelines (KBD), lessons learned and customer requirements agreement
• Provide leadership and direction for each awarded program to meet all customer and internal timing milestones in the product development process including the quality of design and product margin improvement
• Develop leadership relationships with key customers executives to ensure clear and strong communications and program issue resolution
• Responsible for providing input and guidance through all engineering and technical phases of Methode's PDPLS product development process including common cross program development methodology and tools
• Works in parallel with the Hardware, Software and Mechanical Technical Fellows to ensure product design quality to meet both internal and customer timing and product performance expectations
• Coordinate internal cross functional teams including working deeply with the advanced manufacturing, tooling, purchasing and manufacturing teams to ensure launch readiness
• Enhance product profitability through customer and internal engineering changes as well as VA/VA activities including the enforcement of a disciplined change control process
• Owner of product launch profitability and program budgets including return on sales and margin improvement and change "bump charts" along with quote to actual budgets for program tooling and capital
• Work closely with Sales to create an ongoing robust new business pipeline and to secure new business awards
• Develop a product roadmap and product strategies to ensure future revenue growth
• In conjunction with Operations and Finance, develop manufacturing requirements and strategies to grow both revenue and enhance profit. This includes the business case and payback for manufacturing and industrialization CAPEX projects
• Develop a coherent recruiting, staffing, and staff development strategy that supports the business plan and strategic direction
• Engineering annual budget
• Create an environment supportive of positive employee engagement Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's in Engineering with a Master's in Business Administration or Engineering preferred
  • Strong understanding of business and finance to drive increased program profitability
  • Deep understanding of commercial vehicle, automotive and power sports product requirements, development processes and timing
  • Strong communication skills are required to enable a close working relationship with the global Methode team as well as key suppliers
  • Minimum of 15 years' experience with lighting and user interface products in the commercial vehicle, automotive and power sports market segments
  • Proven ability to work with international design teams and ability to lead cross functional development teams from concept to launch
  • Cross functional engineering experience in Optics, Mechanical, Electrical and Software
  • In-depth knowledge of plastic injection molding, SMT, tooling, validation, part and assembly design and manufacturing processes
  • Strong track record of booking new business including the strategic activities, product plans and pre-RFQ/RFQ actions to drive organic revenue growth.
  • History of cost reduction efforts and knowledge of product cost estimating
  • Excellent organizational and presentational skills along with proven ability to solve complex problems
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements as they may apply to new product development, such as SAE, FMVSS, ECE, CCC, and ASTM requirements
    • Domestic and international travel up to 40% of time
      
      Work Environment:
      
      The work environment 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.
      
      Physical Demands:
      
      The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Frequent hand motion and repetitive tasks including using a computer for typing. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally do immediate reaching and overhead reaching to perform various duties, frequent standing for varied amounts of time to perform various duties, frequent walking for varied amounts of time to perform various duties. Squat or bend to perform various duties. Occasionally climb stairs.
      
      Methode Electronics is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics per the EEO Poster available here . If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@methode.com or call (708) 867-6777 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Keywords: Methode Electronics, Southfield , Director, Engineering Lighting and User Interface, Executive , Southfield, Michigan