Productization Engineering Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Productization Engineering Lead will be responsible for bridging research and prototype development to full production readiness. This position ensures that new technologies and research outputs are transformed into robust, reliable, scalable, and manufacturable products that meet market and customer requirements.

This role is ideal for a technically strong, cross-functional engineer with demonstrated leadership in converting innovative concepts into production-ready products within a precision instrumentation and manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the transition of research prototypes, new concepts, and early designs into production-ready products.

• Collaborate with R&D, mechanical design, electrical engineering, and software teams to define product requirements and technical specifications.
• Guide design optimization for manufacturability, testability, reliability, and performance.
• Own product performance validation, including design verification plans and execution.
• Ensure material cost-effectiveness and availability from suppliers.

Production Readiness & Launch

• Coordinate and drive cross-functional releases with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Regulatory teams.
• Establish manufacturing processes, automation, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions necessary for scale production.
• Ensure smooth New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and launch readiness.
• Collect and analyze product performance data from pilot line and early production to iterate product improvements where necessary.

Process, Quality & Design for Manufacture

• Apply design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and reliability principles to engineering releases.
• Lead failure analysis and corrective action planning to improve product robustness.
• Support Quality Management System activities and compliance as required.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and guide junior engineers and coordinate technical teams.
• Facilitate design reviews, stage-gate assessments, and readiness checkpoints.
• Serve as the technical owner for productization status and risks throughout the product lifecycle.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Systems Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 7+ years of engineering experience in product development, production engineering, or manufacturing engineering, preferably in precision instrumentation, sensors, or electromechanical products.
• Strong experience in transitioning prototypes to high-volume, manufacturable products.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and complex technical projects.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with demonstrated experience in root-cause analysis, design optimization, and testing/validation.
• Experience with CAD (such as SolidWorks), BOM creation, ECOs, and configuration control.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 10 percent of the time

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.