Product Improvement Engineering Manager

Kelly® Engineering is seeking a Product Improvement Engineering Manager  for a direct-hire opportunity with a leading global manufacturer of automotive service equipment headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri. If you’re passionate about product design, engineering leadership, continuous improvement, and developing innovative mechanical systems, this could be an excellent opportunity to advance your career.

Overview

Our client is a globally recognized manufacturer of advanced vehicle service equipment used by automotive manufacturers, dealerships, tire retailers, fleet operators, and service centers worldwide. Their product portfolio includes highly engineered mechanical, electrical, and software-integrated systems that support vehicle alignment, balancing, inspection, and diagnostic operations. Known for innovation, quality, and long-term stability, the company continues to invest heavily in product development and engineering excellence.

The Product Improvement Engineering Manager will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for enhancing existing products throughout their lifecycle. This position combines engineering leadership, project management, product design expertise, and continuous improvement initiatives to drive product performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost optimization, and customer satisfaction. The successful candidate will serve as a key liaison between Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Sales while mentoring and developing a team of engineers and designers.

Primary Responsibilities

	
• Lead and develop a cross-functional engineering team focused on post-launch product improvement initiatives.
  
  	
• Manage team priorities, project schedules, resource allocation, and workload balancing across multiple concurrent projects.
  
  	
• Drive improvements in product performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and overall customer experience.
  
  	
• Partner with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing teams to identify and implement product enhancements.
  
  	
• Evaluate engineering projects and improvement opportunities based on technical feasibility, business impact, and customer value.
  
  	
• Guide engineers through root cause investigations, corrective actions, and resolution of product performance issues.
  
  	
• Support design improvements utilizing Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
  
  	
• Ensure appropriate selection of materials, manufacturing processes, and system integration methodologies.
  
  	
• Lead resolution of manufacturing, quality, and supply chain challenges through effective design modifications.
  
  	
• Establish and improve engineering processes, standards, and development practices to increase organizational effectiveness.
  
  	
• Coach, mentor, and develop engineering talent while supporting career growth and succession planning.
  
  	
• Promote a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  
  

Qualifications

	
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  
  	
• 5+ years of engineering leadership or engineering management experience.
  
  	
• Strong background in mechanical product design and development.
  
  	
• Proficiency with CAD software (Creo preferred).
  
  	
• Experience leading technical teams and managing engineering projects.
  
  	
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to drive root cause resolution.
  
  	
• Experience designing mechanical products, machinery, or capital equipment.
  
  	
• Strong knowledge of sheet metal design, machined components, injection molded plastics, mechanisms, and system integration.
  
  	
• Experience with Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
  
  	
• Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) experience.
  
  	
• Lean Manufacturing knowledge and continuous improvement methodologies.
  
  

Benefits

	
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage
  
  	
• Industry-leading profit-sharing program with Safe Harbor contribution
  
  	
• Generous paid time off
  
  	
• Tuition reimbursement assistance
  
  	
• Paid parental leave
  
  	
• Onsite fitness and recreation center
  
  	
• Career advancement and professional development opportunities
  
  	
• Performance-based compensation programs
  
  

What Happens Next?

Once you apply, you’ll proceed to the next steps if your background and experience align with the position requirements. Even if this opportunity isn’t the right fit, you’ll remain connected with Kelly Engineering’s specialized recruiting team, providing access to future engineering and leadership opportunities.

 

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