Director of Product Development

Title:                     Director of Product Engineering and Development
Business Unit:     Medeco Security Locks
Location:             Salem, VA (on-site)
Department:        Engineering
EEO Job Class:  Exempt
Status:                Full-Time
Reports To:        General Manager, Medeco

ASSA ABLOY Americas is seeking a Director of Product Engineering and Development to lead the ASSA ABLOY Medeco engineering team. This role encompasses the development, organization, and execution of new product initiatives, innovation, sustaining engineering, product testing, and ensuring compliance with codes and standards. The successful candidate will drive the future growth of the Medeco brand by transforming market requirements into products that bring value to our customers.

Responsibilities of this role include: 

• Provide hands-on leadership to the Medeco/ASSA Engineering team which covers multiple product lines across various mechanical and electronic platforms. 
• Lead the development of our annual Technology Plan Roadmap while working with relevant members of the Leadership Team to develop the details of the strategic operating plan for the business. 
• Lead multiple product development design teams for new product development and sustaining engineering across multiple disciplines including Project Management, Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, Software, and Test Engineering. 
• Successfully manage projects through multiple gates ensuring on-time product launches. 
• Attract and retain top talent and align capabilities with current and future business needs. 
• Implement effective systems for regular resource planning to ensure that available resources are used optimally, development plans are in place for high-potential employees in talent review, and a structured succession plan for growth is developed. 
• Maximize employee engagement. 
• Lead and manage the New Product Development Process by: 
  • Working with Executive Management to develop product goals which align with business plan objectives.
  • Working with Product Management to develop products that meet and exceed the market requirements. 
  • Work with Product Management and Operations to VA/VE products for customer value and cost reduction.
• Manage annual budget in support of our business goals. 
• Build and develop a collaborative partnership within engineering, product management, operations, and other cross-functional departments. 
• Deliver year over year cost savings. 
• Manage the ASSA ABLOY Innovation system using lean principles and a gate-way driven process to execute product development projects. 
• Develop and maintain knowledge of market competitors as input into portfolio strategy. 
• Participate in customer, collaborator and distributor visits, demonstrations, and training as needed. 
• Drive the use of effective tools and methodologies such as FMEA, DFMA, 8(D) etc. 
• Acts as the key advisor to the Medeco General Manager, and to the President of the High Security Group on technical matters. 
• Effectively communicates project progress and issues/risks to company and group leadership teams. 
• Work with the quality and regulatory department to ensure that all work complies with regulatory directives in the Company’s focus markets. 
• Ensures product idea IP is captured and submitted for patent protection, maximizing the value of our IP portfolio. 

Minimum Requirements 

• BS Degree in Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial required, MBA preferred. Other degrees may be considered depending on experience.
• 15 years of experience including 5 years in a leadership role managing large engineering teams with a proven track record of taking new products from inception through development and successful commercialization. 
• Extensive experience with electro-mechanical product development. 
• Demonstrated work experience in New Product Development (NPD) working within an Agile environment. 
• The ability to effectively communicate and influence stakeholders throughout the organization (inside and outside engineering) to drive goals to project completion. 

Additionally, the most competitive candidates will have: 

• Project Management Certification
• Experience with Firmware development 
• Experience working in a collaborative global organization. 
• Strong background in technology and technical leadership in driving company’s long term technology roadmap. 
• Experienced with innovation systems driven by lean principles and a gate-way development process. 
• Experience using development tools such as FMEA, HALT, GD&T, DFM&A, DVP&R, Altium, PCCAD, SolidWorks 3D, MS Project and Root Cause. 
• Demonstrated experience managing intellectual property creation and portfolio management. 

We review applications regularly, so don’t hesitate, apply today!

Medeco is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunity (“EEO”) to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a disabled, other protected, recently separated, or Armed Forces Service Medal veteran.

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 61,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access. 

As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.

As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.