Woodward, Inc

Engineering Manager, Test & Integration Lab

Woodward, Inc$113K — $181K *
Niles, IL 60714In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in engineering management with a focus on test and integration roles in aerospace or similar fields.
  • Strong leadership skills with experience coaching diverse teams.
  • Proficiency in design for Six Sigma and lean product development methodologies.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective idea presentation.
  • Demonstrated ability in budget management and financial analysis.

Responsibilities

  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance development processes.
  • Establish and oversee a new Engineering Test and Integration Lab facility.
  • Engage directly with teams to understand needs and support effectively.
  • Mentor and develop staff to maximize their potential and enhance team performance.
  • Create and maintain standards for high-quality testing and integration processes.

Benefits

  • Annual cash bonus eligibility for all members.
  • 401(k) with a 4.5% match and annual stock contribution of 5%.
  • Tuition reimbursement and ongoing professional development opportunities.
  • 12 paid holidays including floating holidays.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance from the start.
Full Job Description
Woodward supports our members' wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Manager I:

Estimated annual base pay: $113,000 (Minimum) - $147,000 (Midpoint) - $181,000 (Maximum)

Senior Manager:

Estimated annual base pay: $145,000 (Minimum) - $181,000 (Midpoint) - $218,000 (Maximum)

  • All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
  • 401(k) match (4.5%)
  • Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
  • Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
  • 12 paid holidays, including floating holidays.
  • Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
  • Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
  • Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
  • Member referral bonus
  • Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
  • Voluntary benefits, including:
    • Home / Auto Insurance discounts
    • Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave


Summary:

We have an exciting opportunity as Engineering Manager, Integration & Test Lab in Niles, Il in the Electromagnetic Systems Business part of the Aerospace Group. This newly created role will help define new lab space, test equipment, process and policies for the Engineering Test & Integration Lab. The selected candidate will play a key role in determining how test & integration activities support both the Technology and Product Development team members executing critical component, sub-system and full system testing.

Manager I:

Key Responsibilities:
  • Drive Continuous Improvement: Implement and support systemic and process improvements to enhance product development velocity, ensure robust design culture, and pursue better ways of working through learning, adapting, and driving measurable progress.
  • Help define and implement a new Engineering Test and Integration Lab facility as well as hire team members who will partner with Systems and Product engineers
  • Go and See Leadership: Actively engage with teams by showing up where the work happens, listening deeply, and understanding team needs to provide effective support.
  • Coach and Mentor Staff: Build trust, empower team members, and provide feedback to grow individuals to their full potential while maintaining a highly skilled and adaptable team using talent management systems, training matrices, and performance reviews.
  • Develop and Maintain Test and Integration Process: Create, maintain, and improve standards to ensure high-quality, compliant subsystem and systems tests while leveraging lessons learned to enhance future products and test procedures.
  • Budget and Resource Management: Develop and manage budgets to align with profit planning activities, assign resources effectively to meet business needs, and achieve the company's profitability objectives.


Key Skills:
  • Leadership and People Management: Strong leadership and motivational skills to coach, mentor, and empower individuals while fostering collaboration and teamwork.
  • Adaptability and Learning Agility: Ability to adapt to changing environments, maintain a customer-focused mindset, and learn quickly to address emerging challenges.
  • Technical Expertise: Proficiency in engineering test and integration system testing in aerospace or similarly complex products.
  • Continuous Improvement Knowledge: Expertise in Design for Six Sigma, lean product development, waste elimination, and structured problem-solving methods.
  • Communication and Presentation Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and effectively.
  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to align technical direction with corporate strategic goals, execute effectively, and drive meaningful progress.
  • Risk Management: Superb skills in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks to ensure robust product designs.
  • Training and Development: Skilled in creating training programs and maintaining training matrices to upskill staff to meet organizational needs.
  • Financial Analysis and Budgeting: Strong understanding of financial analysis tools and the ability to manage budgets effectively to meet objectives.


Other Qualifications:
  • Aken - Certified Technician/ Bachelor


Senior Manager:

Key Responsibilities:
  • Drive Continuous Improvement: Work with leaders and senior engineers to implement and support systemic and process improvements to enhance development testing and integration velocity and pursue better ways of working through learning, adapting, and driving measurable progress.
  • Go and See Leadership: Actively engage with teams by showing up where the work happens, listening deeply, and understanding team needs to provide effective support.
  • Coach and Mentor Staff Leaders and Senior Engineers: Build trust, empower team members, and provide feedback to grow individuals to their full potential while maintaining a highly skilled and adaptable team using talent management systems, training matrices, and performance reviews.
  • Develop and Maintain Test and Integration Process: Create, maintain, and improve standards to ensure high-quality, compliant subsystem and systems tests while leveraging lessons learned to enhance future products and test procedures.
  • Develop and Maintain Test Standards: Create, maintain, and improve development testing & integration standards to ensure high-quality, compliant test methods while leveraging lessons learned to enhance future test methods.
  • Budget and Resource Management: Develop and manage budgets to align with profit planning activities, assign resources effectively to meet business needs, and achieve the company's profitability objectives.


Key Skills:
  • Leadership and People Management: Strong leadership and motivational skills to coach, mentor, and empower leaders and senior engineers while fostering collaboration and teamwork.
  • Adaptability and Learning Agility: Ability to adapt to changing environments, maintain a customer-focused mindset, and learn quickly to address emerging challenges.
  • Technical Expertise: Proficiency in engineering test and integration system testing in aerospace or similarly complex products.
  • Technical Expertise: Significant experience formulating test plans for component level, subsystem level and system level testing, typically based on engineering ICDs, system requirement documentation and program requirements; and ensuring documentation meets various compliance, reporting, and safety standards.
  • Continuous Improvement Knowledge: Expertise in Design for Six Sigma, lean product development, waste elimination, and structured problem-solving methods.
  • Communication and Presentation Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and effectively.
  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to align technical direction with corporate strategic goals, execute effectively, and drive meaningful progress.
  • Training and Development: Skilled in creating training programs and maintaining training matrices to upskill staff to meet organizational needs.
  • Financial Analysis and Budgeting: Strong understanding of financial analysis tools and the ability to manage budgets effectively to meet objectives.


Other Qualifications:
  • Aken - Certified Technician/ Bachelor


This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee).

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About Woodward, Inc

Woodward, Inc. is an independent designer, manufacturer, and service provider of control solutions for the aerospace and industrial markets. The company's innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, and motion control systems help customers offer cleaner, more reliable, and more efficient equipment. Woodward is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, and serves customers worldwide.
Learn more about Woodward, Inc
Size
7,200 employees
Market Cap
$5.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$228.5 million
Founded
1870
5 Year Trend
+2.6%
Revenue
$2.3 billion
NASDAQ

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