Product Development Manager

Position Summary

The Product Development Manager is responsible for leading the technical development, standardization, and release of industrial refrigeration heat transfer units, including ammonia and CO₂-based solutions. This role serves as the technical integrator across mechanical, electrical, controls, and compliance activities, while coordinating closely with manufacturing, suppliers, consultants, and internal stakeholders to bring new industrial refrigeration heat transfer component product lines from concept through prototype, validation, and product line release.

• Lead development of packaged industrial refrigeration heat transfer units, including prototype units and standardized product lines.
• Manage design reviews, track action items, and ensure technical readiness for prototype build and product line release.
• Support transition from prototype designs to repeatable, standardized product architectures.
• Lead laboratory testing and analyze performance data for component capability and operation
• Work directly with external suppliers and consultants for supplied components of the heat transfer equipment.
• Review quotes, approve purchase orders, and manage submittal and approval workflows for critical components.
• Coordinate with consultants on structural, vibration, and hazard analyses supporting heat transfer unit designs.

• Provide direct engineering support to manufacturing during prototype production builds.
• Resolve build issues related to drawings, hardware, purchased parts, and assembly sequencing.
• Support installed cost analysis and manufacturability improvements for industrial refrigeration heat transfer units.

• Support compliance with applicable industrial refrigeration codes and standards
  • IIAR, UL, safety and hazard reviews
• Participate in standards and code discussions affecting industrial refrigeration heat transfer units and relay impacts to product development and marketing teams.
• Prepare and maintain hazard review and safety documentation associated with industrial refrigeration heat transfer units.

• Technical liaison between engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and field support.
• Provide regular updates to leadership through staff meetings, written updates, and design review documentation.
• Support field issues, customer escalations, and site visits related to system performance.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering minimum
  • Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering desired
• Minimum 8 years’ work experience with proven ability to learn new skills and responsibilities
• Experience with industrial refrigeration equipment, including ammonia and CO₂ systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-discipline engineering efforts (mechanical, electrical, controls).
• Experience coordinating with suppliers, consultants, and manufacturing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and leadership updates.

• Personnel
  • 35 – 40 Team Members
  • Engineers
  • Designers / Drafters
  • Laboratory Technicians
• Product Focus
  • Industrial refrigeration heat transfer units
  • Liquid Recirculated and Direct Expansion Evaporators
  • Evaporative Condensers

• Communicate professionally & effectively and build consensus across organizational boundaries with conflicting goals, accountabilities, and drivers
• Drive the development process to deliver results in a fast-paced, performance oriented environment
• Manage resources, priorities, budgets and schedules for on time delivery of quality products
• Strong attention to detail, consistent follow through and reliable documentation skills
• Observe…