Engineering Manager, EZ Dock

At PlayPower, we are not just a company; we’re a passionate family of brands dedicated to creating moments of joy and inspiration through play. As a global leader in crafting premier recreational equipment, our mission is to ignite imaginations and fuel creativity in people of all ages. By joining our team of over 1600 employees across the world, you are joining a community that believes in the Power of Play! If you're ready to make a lasting impact and bring laughter and fun to the lives of children and adults, explore our exciting opportunities to help us to create a world where play knows no limits.

Company Values:

• Honesty and Integrity

• Respect and Caring for Others

• Openness and Collaboration

• Individual and Team Accountability

• Passion and Purpose

The Engineering Manager, EZ Dock, leads the execution of EZ Dock’s product engineering function, including new product development, continuous improvement of existing products, and technical support for the field. This role is responsible for delivering high-quality, cost-effective product designs that meet performance, regulatory, and manufacturability requirements. Directly manages one Product Design Engineer and one Technical Product Support resource.

This position partners closely with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to execute product development initiatives from concept through commercialization. The Engineering Manager also serves as the primary technical resource for distributors, customers, and internal teams, while managing a small engineering team and ensuring timely, efficient delivery of projects.

Essential Functions

• Leads the design and development of safe, reliable, and cost-effective products that meet or exceed marine industry standards (ADA, SOBA, and applicable regulatory requirements).
• Executes new product development projects from concept through launch, including design, prototyping, validation, and production readiness, in alignment with Product Management direction.
• Identifies and implements engineering-driven product improvements to enhance performance, durability, ease of installation, and cost efficiency.
• Partners with Product Management to evaluate product concepts for technical feasibility, cost, and manufacturability.
• Manages project timelines, priorities, and resources to ensure on-time and on-budget execution of engineering initiatives.
• Oversee internal and outsourced design efforts, ensuring quality, accuracy, and alignment with defined product requirements.
• Provides technical leadership and support to distributors, customers, and internal teams, serving as the primary point of contact for product-related technical inquiries and field challenges.
• Leads product testing, validation, and R&D activities to ensure performance, safety, and compliance.
• Ensures proper documentation of product designs, including drawings, specifications, installation instructions, and user guides.
• Oversees product data management within Syteline (ERP), including BOMs, routings, and cost structures.
• Ensures compliance with ISO standards and supports validation of new and revised products
• Stays current on materials, manufacturing processes, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Provides hands-on support for installations, field evaluations, and troubleshooting as needed.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to coach, develop, and hold team members accountable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• High level of organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally with product management, sales, and operations teams.
• Strong understanding of product cost drivers and design-for-manufacturability principles.
• Proficient in engineering design tools such as AutoCAD, Creo (ProE), or similar CAD software.
• Experience with ERP systems (Syteline or similar) preferred.
• Ability to manage budgets, resources, and project priorities effectively.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree (BS in Engineering) from four-year college or university
• 8 or more years of experience with increasing levels of responsibility and most recently held position of Engineering manager, supervisor or similar strongly preferred.
• Proven experience executing product design and development projects
• Strongly prefer Marine Industry experience
• Strongly prefer experience with plastic product design and/or rotational molding
• Qualified Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent experience is preferred.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

Physical Requirements:

• Position involves reaching, climbing and balancing, carrying and installing parts and components, and visiting production areas to be involved in engineering of product.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times on an occasional basis.
• Position requires frequent sitting at computer.