Product Development & Quality Manager
Retail · 201-500 employees
About the role
The manager will lead product development and quality control functions, including designing new fall protection equipment and overseeing engineering documentation. They are responsible for managing the product design and quality teams while ensuring compliance with safety standards and continuous improvement initiatives.
What they look for
Requirements
Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in an engineering field and at least 5 years of experience in product design, manufacturing, or quality control. Proficiency in CAD, mechanical engineering principles, and knowledge of safety standards like OSHA and ANSI are required.
Full description
PRIMARY PURPOSE
The Product Development & Quality Manager is responsible for leading Malta Dynamics' Product Development and Quality Control functions while actively designing and developing new fall protection and safety products.
This is a hands-on technical leadership position responsible for product design, engineering, testing, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. The Manager will directly manage the Product Design Engineer and Quality Technician while maintaining the technical knowledge and ability to perform, review, and direct the work within both functions.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Development & Engineering
- Design and engineer new fall protection and safety products from concept through production.
- Create and review CAD models, drawings, specifications, prototypes, and engineering documentation.
- Lead product testing, validation, design changes, and improvements to existing products.
- Manage development projects with domestic and international suppliers, manufacturers, engineers, and testing facilities.
- Ensure products are designed for performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, and compliance.
- Provide technical information for product manuals, labels, instructions, and other materials.
Quality, Testing & Compliance
- Lead product quality control, including inspections, supplier quality, warranty concerns, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
- Manage third-party quality inspections and work directly with suppliers to resolve quality issues.
- Lead root cause investigations involving product failures, defects, customer concerns, and warranty issues.
- Manage and maintain the ISO/IEC 17025 test laboratory and associated documentation.
- Oversee and participate in internal and third-party product testing.
- Maintain working knowledge of applicable OSHA requirements, ANSI/ASSP standards, and other relevant regulations and standards.
This places the manager over the Quality Technician's inspection, supplier-quality, warranty, documentation, and improvement responsibilities.
Team & Project Management
- Directly manage and develop Product Development and Quality personnel.
- Establish department priorities, project timelines, responsibilities, and deliverables.
- Review and approve engineering and quality work completed by team members.
- Balance personal design responsibilities with department leadership and project management.
- Coordinate priorities with Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Marketing, and other internal teams.
- Identify technical, supplier, quality, or project issues and drive them to resolution.
Technical Support & Documentation
- Serve as a senior technical resource for internal teams, customers, distributors, and suppliers.
- Maintain engineering and quality document control, including drawings, specifications, test reports, and revisions.
- Support complex product application, performance, safety, and quality questions.
- Analyze product, testing, warranty, and quality data to identify opportunities for improvement.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong product design, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and quality control knowledge.
- Proficiency with CAD, engineering drawings, prototyping, and product testing.
- Demonstrated ability to take physical products from concept through design, testing, and production.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, specifications, and inspection methods.
- Experience with root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
- Strong project management, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage technical employees while remaining actively involved in engineering and design work.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to learn, interpret, and remain current on applicable OSHA requirements, ANSI/ASSP standards, and other relevant standards.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of experience in product design, development, engineering, manufacturing, quality, or a related technical field.
- Hands-on CAD and product design experience required.
- Previous technical leadership or project management experience preferred.
- Experience with fall protection, PPE, safety equipment, or other standards-driven products preferred.
- Experience with ISO/IEC 17025 and international manufacturers or suppliers preferred.
Note: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications for this position and may be subject to change as the needs of the company evolve.
