Mechanical Engineering Manager, Ind. Prod. in Monroe, North Carolina at Scott Safety

As the Mechanical Engineering Manager, you'll lead the team responsible for developing the mechanical technologies that power Scott Safety's industrial life-safety products. Through a combination of technical leadership, talent development, and cross-functional collaboration, you'll help deliver innovative, reliable, and customer-focused solutions that protect workers in demanding environments and strengthen Scott Safety's position as an industry leader. This role offers the opportunity to shape product strategy, influence technology roadmaps, and build a high-performing engineering organization that transforms customer insights into differentiated products and long-term business value.

Lead & Develop a High-Performing Engineering Organization: Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing team of mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and customer focus. Provide coaching, performance management, technical guidance, and career development to strengthen organizational capability and leadership succession.Drive Mechanical Product Strategy & Innovation: Partner with Product Management and cross-functional stakeholders to shape product roadmaps, evaluate emerging technologies, and translate customer needs into differentiated product concepts, designs, and innovations that improve performance, reduce risk, and create measurable business value.Lead New Product Development & Commercialization: Oversee the design, development, verification, validation, and launch of advanced mechanical life-safety products from concept through production, ensuring programs meet performance, quality, cost, schedule, regulatory, and customer requirements.Advance Engineering Excellence & Technical Capability: Establish and sustain rigorous engineering practices across product development activities, including PLM, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), DFMEA, tolerance analysis, simulation and modeling, statistical methods, design reviews, testing, verification, and validation processes. Continuously assess organizational capabilities and close technical skill gaps to support future business needs.Drive Product Simplification & Operational Performance: Partner with Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to improve product manufacturability, reduce complexity, standardize components, minimize part and SKU proliferation, and resolve production, quality, and supply challenges while maintaining required safety, reliability, and compliance standards.Provide Technical Leadership for Critical Technologies: Develop and maintain organizational expertise in key mechanical technologies, including high-pressure pneumatic systems, regulators, cylinders, gauges, injection-molded plastics, soft goods, and related product technologies. Apply deep technical judgment to guide design decisions, mitigate risk, and improve product performance based on real-world customer usage.

QualificationsMinimum

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline.9+ years of experience developing and commercializing mechanical products.4+ years of direct people leadership experience managing mechanical engineering development teams.Demonstrated experience leading mechanical product development efforts from concept through commercialization within a structured product development environment.Strong technical, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence decisions, align stakeholders, and drive execution across multiple priorities.

Preferred

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or a related advanced degree.Proven track record of launching successful proprietary products and translating customer insights into differentiated product solutions and roadmap opportunities.Experience applying AI-assisted tools to improve engineering productivity, decision-making, and leadership effectiveness.Experience developing life-safety equipment, respiratory protection products, personal protective equipment (PPE), or other highly regulated products.Demonstrated success building, coaching, developing, and retaining high-performing engineering teams.Deep expertise in high-pressure pneumatics, industrial product development, and mechanical system design, including hands-on evaluation and improvement of designs.Strong technical judgment and data-driven decision-making capabilities in complex, high-pressure environments.Expertise in product development, design-for-manufacturing, reliability engineering, risk management, design controls, verification, and validation.Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and drive organizational change through collaboration, influence, and trusted partnerships.Strategic business mindset with strong analytical skills, intellectual curiosity, resilience, urgency, and commitment to continuous learning.Customer-centered and mission-driven approach with a commitment to safety, quality, and protecting end users in demanding operating environments.

Working Conditions & Essential Job Requirements

Work Environment: This role is required to work on-site at the Monroe, NC facility and is not a remote role.Physical Requirements: Ability to work at a computer for extended periods, communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, and occasionally travel or move throughout office, engineering, manufacturing, or customer-site environments. Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.Travel: May include up to 10% domestic/international travelOther: Must be authorized to work in the country of employment without current or future employer sponsorship.

Compensation & Benefits

At Scott Safety, we value our employees and are committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond just a paycheck. We believe that taking care of our team members is essential to fostering a healthy and motivated workforce. When you join Scott Safety, you can expect a wide range of benefits designed to enhance your being and support your career growth. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to:

Medical & Dental InsuranceRelocation Assistance401(k) with Company MatchCompany Paid Holidays + Personal HolidaysVacation DaysBereavement & Caregiver LeaveEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Employee Discount ProgramTax Advantaged Account (HSA)Paid Parental LeaveCompany Paid Basic Life/AD&D InsuranceAnd more!

Scott Safety is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.