Sr. Engineer Manager of Product Design

XL Specialized Trailers is seeking a senior engineering leader to guide the product design of its heavy haul trailer platforms. This onsite role, based in Manchester, IA, combines hands-on leadership with cross-functional collaboration to ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and supported across production, warranty, and service.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of product design engineers serving both production and in-market products
• Own the architectures, standards, and design intent for heavy haul trailer platforms
• Prioritize and allocate engineering work driven by production needs, product improvements, cost-reduction efforts, and field feedback
• Act as the engineering owner for sustaining engineering, product changes, and platform evolution (non-new product development)
• Provide engineering support for production, enabling rapid resolution of design, quality, and manufacturability issues
• Enhance weldment, fabrication, and assembly methods
• Improve BOM accuracy, drawings, and release quality
• Lead and participate in structured design reviews and approve engineering changes
• Oversee ECN/ECO execution to ensure timely, accurate, and well-documented product changes
• Ensure compliance with FMVSS, DOT, and internal engineering and quality standards
• Apply DFMEA, lessons learned, warranty data, and field feedback to improve durability, safety, and product reliability
• Drive design-for-manufacturing, design-to-cost, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support sales, service, and operations by providing clear engineering guidance and technical explanations
• Maintain and improve engineering documentation, databases, and design tools
• Assist with developing and implementing standard, pre-engineered product offerings to reduce custom engineering resource demands and improve schedule execution

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• Experience in heavy haul trailers, heavy equipment, or fabricated mobile equipment
• Strong background in mechanical systems, structures, hydraulics, and manufacturing processes
• Proven experience supporting products in production environments

Technologies

• CAD tools
• Excel
• Engineering data systems

Position Summary

The Sr. Engineer Manager of Product Design leads a team that manages a defined portion of XL's standard product offerings to support the production schedule. The role emphasizes ownership, standardization, continuous improvement, and lifecycle support of existing trailer platforms, while ensuring designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, compliant, and scalable. The role collaborates with other senior engineering managers leading sub-teams within the department to ensure alignment.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Build a culture of accountability, practical engineering judgment, and continuous improvement
• Mentor and develop engineers in technical skills, standards, and problem-solving
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and Service

Key Competencies

• Practical, hands-on engineering judgment
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to balance cost, performance, manufacturability, and reliability
• Proficiency with CAD tools, Excel, and engineering data systems

Work Environment

Combination of office and shop-floor support, primarily on-site with limited travel as needed