What are the responsibilities and job description for the Technical Product Manager - Dishwasher position at Midea?
Job Summary:
The Dishwasher Technical Product Engineering Manager supports the development and strategic direction of built-in, portable, and compact dishwasher platforms for the US market. This role is a key member of the R&D team, responsible for driving innovation, evaluating product quality, and collaborating with internal and international teams to design differentiated dishwashing solutions and advance product performance, efficiency, and user experience.
This position is full-time and fully on-site. Some domestic and international travel is required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic guidance, mentoring, and coaching to team members
- Foster a positive, accountable, and collaborative team culture
- Support career development plans, skill-building, and training opportunities
- Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of projects or features
- Act as the primary interface between the team and upper management or other departments
- Evaluate individual performance and provide actionable feedback
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Understand the latest trends and technologies in the global dishwasher and home appliance industry
- Maintain high level knowledge of international appliance standards, energy regulations (DOE, Energy Star), and safety requirements (UL, IEC)
- Lead the development of innovative solutions for US Division dishwasher platforms
- Lead and design dishwasher systems including wash, dry, fluid, acoustic, and structural components
- Lead and test/evaluate prototype dishwasher concepts for cleaning performance, energy usage, water consumption, noise, and reliability
- Benchmark and reverse-engineer competitor dishwasher products to identify strengths and gaps
- Conduct detailed performance testing, analyze results, and generate comprehensive reports
- Generate new product and feature concepts (e.g., spray systems, drying technologies, smart connectivity) and develop working prototypes
- Maintain awareness of market and technology trends, including connectivity, controls, and user experience features
- Lead root cause analysis for field-returned components and implement corrective actions
- Collaborate with global engineering teams (including China) to maximize project outcomes and speed to market
- Assist in preparation of service manuals, technical bulletins, and troubleshooting documentation
- Assist the marketing and PM teams with customer, and sales, and commercial needs
- Lead execution of complex cross-functional dishwasher development projects
- Support manufacturing launch, quality improvements, and cost optimization initiatives
- Domestic and international travel required
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Ability to guide an international team to develop dishwasher products for the US market
- Experience in dishwasher product design and appliance system integration
- Knowledge of North American dishwasher requirements, standards, and regulations
- General understanding of core dishwasher systems (wash systems, pumps, valves, heating, drying, controls, filtration systems internal to appliances)
- Clear thinker with strategic mindset regarding product and market strategy
- Ability to rapidly analyze diverse data inputs to make informed decisions simultaneously
- Ability to conduct root cause failure analysis and implement corrective actions
- Strong problem-solving, risk management, and decision-making skills
- Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional coordination skills
- Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and entrepreneurial mindset
- Experience with testing and validation of household appliances (performance, reliability, acoustics)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Experience with simulation tools (CFD, thermal, structural) to optimize dishwasher system performance
- Experience with appliance testing (washing performance, drying systems, durability testing)
- Knowledge of connectivity platforms (smart appliances, IoT integration)
- Experience working in global teams and multicultural environments
- 5 years of engineering or personnel management experience
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 15 years of experience in home appliances, consumer electronics, or related industries
- Prior experience with dishwasher product planning, product development, testing, and commercialization
- Experience managing engineering teams or dishwasher teams