New Product Development Manager - Data Center Cable

Position Overview

·         Responsible for leading the research, development, qualification, and commercialization of new and improved wire and cable products. Manages cross-functional product development initiatives from concept through design, laboratory evaluation, manufacturing trials, qualification, and commercial production, ensuring products meet customer needs, applicable industry standards, quality requirements, and business objectives.

·         The R&D Product Development Manager serves as a technical leader and resource across R&D, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial functions. This position drives product innovation while optimizing product performance, manufacturability, material selection, cost, and speed to market.

Essential Job Functions

·         Lead product development programs from concept through design, laboratory evaluation, manufacturing trials, qualification, and commercialization.

·         Analyze technical and business information and make sound decisions with cross-organizational impact while serving as a technical resource for R&D and other departments.

·         Drive product and material innovation to enhance customer satisfaction, product performance, manufacturing productivity, and cost competitiveness.

·         Develop and optimize wire and cable designs, material selections, and product specifications based on customer requirements, manufacturing capabilities, and applicable industry standards.

·         Plan and coordinate laboratory evaluations, plant trials, scale-up activities, product qualifications, and commercialization of new or modified products.

·         Identify new product and technology needs and determine cost-effective approaches to meet these objectives using internal resources, suppliers, technology partners, and other external resources as appropriate.

·         Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Commercial, and other functions to resolve technical challenges and successfully introduce new products into manufacturing.

·         Support the evaluation, qualification, and implementation of new raw materials, compounds, suppliers, and technologies to improve product performance, manufacturability, supply continuity, and/or cost.

·         Develop and maintain product specifications, technical documentation, test protocols, qualification plans, and other records required for successful product development and commercialization.

·         Ensure new and modified products comply with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, and certification requirements, including UL and other relevant agencies.

·         Apply structured problem-solving, statistical analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and data-driven decision-making to product development and manufacturing challenges.

·         Pursue continuing education and remain current with emerging materials, technologies, industry standards, manufacturing capabilities, and market trends relevant to the wire and cable industry.

·         Develop and justify current and future equipment, laboratory capability, facility, and staffing requirements necessary to support product development activities.

·         Manage and ensure corporate, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance within assigned R&D activities and facilities.

·         Develop technical talent through coaching, mentoring, and effective allocation of resources and responsibilities.

Requirements

·         Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline. Advanced degree preferred.

·         Typically 7–10 years of relevant experience in product development, materials development, product engineering, design engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related technical functions.

·         Experience within the wire and cable, polymer, electrical products, or related manufacturing industries strongly preferred.

·         Typically 2 or more years of technical leadership, project leadership, supervisory, or people-management experience.

·         Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical projects from development through manufacturing implementation and commercialization.

·         Working knowledge of engineering materials, product design, manufacturing processes, laboratory testing, product qualification, and technical problem-solving.

·         Knowledge of applicable wire and cable standards and certification requirements, such as UL, ASTM, ICEA, IEEE, NEC, CSA, or other relevant industry standards, preferred.

·         Experience with polymeric materials, insulation and jacketing compounds, conductors, cable construction, extrusion processes, and/or wire and cable manufacturing preferred.

·         Familiarity with statistical methods, Design of Experiments (DOE), graphical analysis, and data-quality evaluation, with the ability to summarize, interpret, and communicate technical results.

·         Strong project-management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, technical programs, resources, schedules, and business objectives.

·         Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate technical information effectively across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Commercial, leadership, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

·         Demonstrated business mindset with the ability to balance technical performance, manufacturability, cost, quality, risk, and speed to market.

·         Ability and willingness to travel to manufacturing locations, suppliers, customers, and technical partners as required.