Product Design Manager

Product Design Manager- Storage and Structures

Position Title: Product Design Manager - Storage and Structures

Department: Global Product Management - Storage and Structures

Location: Naperville, IL, USA

About Our Client Company

Our client is a global food-based infrastructure company publicly traded in Canada. With over 4,200 employees and over 30 global manufacturing brands, they are a leading provider of equipment and technology solutions for agricultural commodities including seed, fertilizer, grain and feed systems and an expanding platform for food processing facilities.

The Opportunity

The Product Design Manager - Storage and Structures will supervise all technical and engineering aspects of the Storage and Structures product lines. Responsibilities include new product development, existing product improvement and support of manufacturing, sales, and marketing activities. The role will also manage the team of Engineers, Designers and Drafters responsible for the design, BOMs and production drawings of industrial steel structures designated to the storage of different commodities (grains, feed, food & fertilizers) and at service of various plant projects and equipment.

The Team

This role will report directly to the Senior Director - Global Product Management, Storage and Structures, and work in close coordination with the wider Global Product Management, Engineering, and regional teams on relevant projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee storage and structures portfolio products, market strategies, projects, and design team.
• Responsible for integrity, reliability, engineering, and competitiveness of the product portfolio, as measured by product cost, features & benefits, and market needs within the competitive landscape.
• Responsible for development of product variants to meet the appropriate platform (seed, fertilizer, grain, feed and food).
• Responsible for the rationalization and simplification of our products portfolio.
• Manage projects at every stage, ensuring that the projects are executed efficiently, correctly, and on schedule.
• Ensure the design of storages and steel structures is carried out according to industry best practices and applicable standards.
• Ensure the product safety and cost effectiveness by design conception & standardization principles across the company.
• Provide leadership, guidance and support to the designers and drafters on the team.
• Collaborate with regional design teams as well as global functions like engineering, supply chain and manufacturing.
• Understand, assess, and simplify civil engineering problems to treat everyday business needs in a cost-effective manner.
• Understand FE analysis basics & principles.
• Review/draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for products and projects and to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Develop plans and estimate costs for the manufacturing of products or structures for projects and quoting purposes.
• Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
• Conduct test and analysis on prototypes using tools and equipment and applying engineering knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, or construction engineering, and/or master's degree in structural engineering, civil engineering, or other related degree.

• 10+ years relevant experience in product design specific to storage products or equivalent. Engineering, or product innovation & development background and agricultural sector backgrounds are assets.
• Professional Engineer License preferred.
• Inventor 3D, AutoCAD 2D, and Vault are required.
• Understanding and application of AISC, ASAE and ASCE codes is essential.
• Strong knowledge on software for FE designs (RISA 3D, SAP200, STAAD Pro, RISA Section, CFS, Ansys)
• Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, AutoCAD, or similar required.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team in an international environment.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time globally.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills, communication, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to own personal development and gain an understanding of the equipment that we manufacture, how it is produced and why designs are made the way they are.
• Ability to think analytically and make accurate and timely decisions.
• Highly organized with excellent time management skills.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, initiative, and a strong work ethic.