Product Safety and Compliance Engineering Manager

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

This role is currently based at our Minneapolis office and will transition to our new headquarters in Dayton, MN, in 2027.

Graco is seeking a Product Safety and Compliance Engineering Manager who will be responsible for leading our corporate program of product safety, global regulatory compliance, certification, and independent third-party approval. This role partners with Graco’s worldwide leadership and division engineering clients to ensure that our products meet applicable safety, health, environmental, and other product regulatory requirements throughout the product lifecycle, from design and development through manufacturing, market release, sustaining engineering, and continued compliance.

A successful candidate will lead a team of Product Safety and Compliance Engineers who partner with designers and engineers, develop and implement compliance strategies, provide technical guidance, support education and training, and promote the compliant and safe design and use of Graco products.

What You Will Do at Graco

· Lead and mentor a team of Product Safety and Compliance Engineers and specialists, fostering continuous improvement, technical development, and strong client engagement and support.

· Develop and support cohesive, multidisciplinary teams between the corporate Product Safety and Compliance function and supported Graco divisions, building a “we’re in it together” culture.

· Monitor new and changing product compliance requirements worldwide and provide guidance regarding their applicability to Graco products. Lead development and implementation of corporate strategies addressing emerging global product regulations and evolving compliance obligations.

· Assist Design Centers in developing product compliance strategies, addressing safety concerns, establishing appropriate conformity-assessment approaches, obtaining required certifications and approvals, and resolving regulatory or certification nonconformities.

· Review and approve design changes, safety plans, product compliance documentation, and release-to-sale activities for new and existing products across Graco divisions.

· Develop and continuously improve corporate policies, procedures, tools, and controls supporting product safety, regulatory compliance, and the acquisition and maintenance of product certifications and approvals.

· Facilitate product safety and compliance education and training, including hazard analysis, risk assessment, safety planning, warning development, regulatory awareness, and compliance best practices.

· Acquire, interpret, and communicate applicable regulations, standards, certification requirements, and emerging product compliance obligations.

· Ensure effective systems are maintained for regulatory intelligence, applicable standards, product certifications, laboratory and agency reports, technical documentation, and other product compliance records.

· Ensure product safety and compliance are effectively integrated throughout the product lifecycle, including new product development, product changes, sustaining engineering, manufacturing transfers, and continued maintenance of product certifications and technical documentation.

· Establish and maintain effective relationships with global certification bodies, test laboratories, consultants, and regulatory authorities. Provide leadership for certification projects, surveillance audits, and resolution of certification or compliance nonconformities.

· Represent Graco in trade organizations and participate in external standards-development and advisory activities related to product and application safety and compliance.

· Provide technical consultation for Graco products and applications in product-liability matters, including accident investigation and equipment identification.

· Serve as a factual or opinion witness, including through affidavits, depositions, trial preparation, or trial participation, when needed.

· Mentor Product Safety and Compliance Engineers in product-liability matters while developing the team’s broader technical, regulatory, certification, and product-safety capabilities.

What You Will Bring to Graco

· Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.

· 10+ years of experience in product development, product compliance, certification, or safety engineering.

· Strong knowledge of global product safety, regulatory, certification, and consensus standards.

· Demonstrated experience applying risk assessment, product safety principles, regulatory requirements, industry standards, and third-party certification processes to complex engineered products.

· Demonstrated ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical product development and compliance strategies.

· Ability to travel as needed to support compliance and safety activities (<10%).

Accelerators

· Experience leading or mentoring engineering or technical professionals.

· Experience working with global certification bodies, test laboratories, regulatory authorities, or other third-party approval organizations.

· Experience with machinery, electrical, hazardous-location, functional-safety, connected-product, or similar product compliance disciplines.

· Experience developing and implementing corporate product safety or compliance procedures, processes, and training.

· Experience supporting product-liability investigations or litigation.

· Experience providing depositions or testimony in legal proceedings.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and unrestricted basis. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, L-1, or employment-based permanent residence sponsorship). Candidates working under temporary employment authorization, including F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, or similar programs, are not eligible for this position.

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation. If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees. Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.