DR Power has been manufacturing and selling professional grade outdoor power equipment since 1985, and we're dedicated to providing our customers with the best tools for their outdoor needs. As a subsidiary of Generac Power Systems, Inc., we're constantly growing and innovating, and we're committed to providing top-notch service after the sale. Join our team and use your expertise to help us reach more customers and continue our tradition of excellence!

The Engineering Project Lead is responsible for planning and executing product development activities including new product introductions, cost reduction, technology integration, and lifecycle product support. The position requires basic cross-functional product development and business process knowledge, strong people leadership skills, some functional and project management experience, and experience with quality systems.

This position works closely with the product business groups and other functional leaders in the company (product management, engineering, service, manufacturing operations, supply chain, marketing, quality, IT, finance) and is responsible for providing leadership and management for projects supporting a Generac business area / product line. This leadership role is responsible for planning and executing product development project plans which ensure superior products for Customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide project management leadership to teams for new product development projects including creating schedules, building product development plans, integrating the activities of cross-functional team members
• Implement product requirements into project scope, design and product realization requirements
• Lead key project execution, in primary collaboration with engineering and product management for new product development or similar product initiatives
• Plan and execute projects to meet schedule, project cost, scope, and quality commitments
• Achieve target product cost for Generac and product life cycle cost for Customers
• Effectively utilize the product development process. Utilize the Generac Development Process (GDP) Milestones and Design Reviews as key drivers of product development progression.
• Implement Risk and Mitigation plans for projects. Define and lead contingency option assessments when needed, then select and execute mitigation plans.
• Initiate collaboration between departments to identify and harvest new product development concepts, technologies, techniques, standards and procedures.
• Influence attributes and decisions such as make vs. buy (globally), shipping and logistics cost, bidding process.
• Participate in identifying and implementing continuous process improvements of the Generac NPI phase/gate process. Lead some CI initiatives in this area.
• Identify, evaluate, and document “lessons-learned” during the project and communicate best practices and lessons learned to project team members on future projects.

Minimal Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree OR equivalent work experience
• 2 years of experience in product design/development focused in engineering, product engineering, brand/product management of equipment, machinery, or other powered products
• 1 year of project management experience in product development or manufacturing of industrial/commercial equipment, machinery, or other powered products

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated Project Management experience with cross-functional teams which includes 'full system' product releases

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong ability to deliver results while working simultaneously on multiple projects; balancing resources, timing and quality of outcomes;
• Strong ability to lead the transformation from product requirements into a product design and realization plan to meet or exceed the product and business goals;
• Ability to influence people and teams who are not all direct reports;
• Strong team building and leadership skills;
• Basic understanding of engineering technical issues/needs, manufacturing, supply chain, service, customer service, financial, sales, and marketing as related to product design and development;
• Strong communication skills;
• Self-driven, highly motivated, flexible and high capacity to learn;

Physical demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting; close vision and ability to adjust focus. Minimal travel.