How you will make an Impact (Job Summary)SPX is a diverse team of unique individuals who all make an impact. As the Mgr, Engineering - R&D Test Center, you will lead, standardize, and continuously improve project engineering activities within the testing organization. This role directly leads Project Engineers and owns the Development Center Request (DCR) process, ensuring projects are properly planned, executed, documented, and closed in accordance with company procedures. The position is accountable for project engineering performance, DCR compliance, portfolio visibility, engineering resource planning, project execution metrics, and effective coordination with test operations so customer projects move efficiently from initiation through completion.
This role also provides organizational leadership for assigned product certification testing programs, including thermal, sound, CTI, and other third-party certification activities, while partnering with customers, engineering leadership, the Test Operations Supervisor, the Product Certification Manager and other stakeholders to align project priorities with business objectives, testing capacity, customer expectations, and organizational resources.
This role encourages innovation and continuously improves efficiency of technical support, monitors advances of technology and competition, and supports global and acquisition-related technical issues in areas of expertise.
What you can expect in this role (Job Responsibilities)While each day brings new opportunities at SPX, your core responsibilities will be:
- Project Engineering Leadership & DCR Governance
- Directly supervise Project Engineers, establish priorities and objectives, and provide coaching, performance management, development planning, and mentoring.
- Responsibilities include engineering test plan readiness, project scope, DCR process governance, DCR portfolio priorities, technical deliverables, capability planning, and engineering quality.
- Own the DCR process from creation and approval through execution, change management, documentation, compliance, and closeout.
- Review project scopes, schedules, deliverables, resource plans, and major changes; assist with complex technical issues and ensure appropriate risk mitigation plans are developed.
- Establish and maintain project engineering standards, conduct routine DCR compliance reviews, and resolve process-related issues or escalations.
- Root-cause investigation of irregular results.
- Technical review of results documentation and finalization of reports.
- Project Portfolio & Resource Planning
- Maintain visibility of active DCRs and customer projects, tracking project status, milestones, schedules, risks, deliverables, cycle times, and closeout requirements.
- Balance Project Engineer assignments based on project complexity, priorities, workload, and available engineering resources.
- Partner with the Test Operations Supervisor to align project priorities with testing capacity and coordinate engineering, testing, and facility resource requirements across multiple projects.
- Provide portfolio status updates to leadership, identify future staffing and competency needs, and escalate project risks, delays, or resource constraints when necessary.
- Ensure certification testing is conducted in accordance with applicable standards and program requirements, with required documentation, reports, records, audits, and corrective actions properly managed working with the Product Certification Manager.
- Integrate certification obligations into the overall testing portfolio and work with Test Operations to manage capacity, competing priorities, compliance risks, and published certification deadlines.
- Performance, Customer & Continuous Improvement
- Analyze project performance metrics and trends, including project cycle time, schedule adherence, customer satisfaction, DCR aging, and resource utilization; develop appropriate reports and dashboards.
- Support Project Engineers in customer interactions, participate in critical customer reviews and escalation meetings, and help ensure customer expectations are effectively managed.
- Drive continuous improvement of project engineering and DCR processes by standardizing best practices, improving planning methodologies, implementing lessons learned, and maintaining effective standards and templates.
- Use project performance data to identify bottlenecks, recommend corrective actions, improve planning accuracy, and promote a culture of accountability, technical excellence, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
What we are looking for (Required/Ideal Experience, Skills, Education)We each bring something to the table, and we are looking for someone who has:
Required Experience & Skills- Minimum of 8 years of experience in engineering, testing, product development, or technical project management.
- Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience, including experience leading project engineering teams.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex technical projects simultaneously and maintain project portfolio visibility.
- Strong project and portfolio management, organizational, planning, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to establish standards, priorities, accountability, and consistent execution across a technical team.
- Excellent business and technical communication skills, including experience interacting directly with customers and executive leadership.
- Experience with engineering resource planning, workload balancing, data analysis, and performance measurement.
- Ability to analyze complex engineering and project information and prioritize competing business demands.
- Strong customer relationship management skills and a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.
Ideal Experience & Skills- PMP certification and experience with DCR, stage-gate, or similar project management processes preferred.
- Laboratory, testing, manufacturing, or engineering operations experience; experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and using project tracking or ERP systems preferred.
Education & Certifications- Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Master's degree and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience is also preferred.
Travel & Working Environment- Onsite office environment, Monday - Friday
- The position may require working occasionally outside normal work hours.
- Lifting up to 70 pounds.
- Bending and stooping.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally.
- Working at heights less than 50 feet above ground.
- Work with exposure to bad weather and/or excessive heat.
What benefits do we offer?We know that the well-being of our employees is integral. Our benefits include:
- Generous and flexible paid time off including paid personal time off, caregiver, parental, and volunteer leave
- Competitive health insurance plans and 401(k) match, with benefits starting day one
- Competitive and performance-based compensation packages and bonus plans
- Educational assistance, leadership development programs, and recognition programs
