Applications Engineering Manager

Gorbel’s mission is simple: We improve people’s lives. 

That mission guides everything we do, from the products and service we provide to our outside customers to the work environment we foster for our employees. We are a manufacturer of material handling and fall protection products for the production andwarehouse/distribution sectors. We’re on the cutting edge of manufacturing and distribution; a thriving, growing company that is constantly seeking out new ways to innovate and elevate our products and our processes – and we’re looking for people like you to join us in that mission. 

We’re currently hiring for open positions in the US and Canada. We operate in Canada as Engineered Lifting Systems and Equipment (ELS)/DBA Gorbel® Canada, and subsequent communication related to Canadian positions may show the ELS name. You may be contacted by phone by recruitment personnel based in either Canada or New York. 

Work Shift:

Job Description:

Oversee the activities of the Application Engineering designers with a focus on integration & custom solutions, ensuring they adhere to project specifications, plans, and timelines. Devise and implement a plan to foster this critical design skill set, and the related resources, to ensure sustained productivity and future product viability. Conceptualize, develop, implement and maintain product designs, using sound electro-mechanical engineering principles and practices, in support of company business development efforts, marketing plans, and department plans. Analyze specifications, as well as business, technology and cost requirements, and implement appropriate, approved designs in a timely and cost effective manner. Take steps to ensure product reliability, performance, and customer acceptance.

Responsibilities:

• Completes designs and drawings (use 3D and/or 2D design software) for the manufacture of mechanical & electrical systems utilizing mechanical & electrical design resources.
• Provideleadership,coaching,development,andmanagementforApplicationsEngineeringstaff
• Oversee and control the department design work of jobs utilizing the ERP, Build Specifications, drawings, bills of material, general arrangement drawings, custom design of mechanical & electrical features, commissioning check sheets.
• Planning, prioritization, and management of the workloadqueue
• Resource planning, allocation andtracking
• Develop, document, implement and enforce group processes andprocedures
• Results– Delivers results and is committed to achieving our goals. Manages project plans and workload effectively, ensuring adherence to timelines and milestones. Constructively addresses issues when they arise.
• Behaviors- Models our company values and behaviors and holds their team to the same standard. A calm, thoughtful, curious approach to tasks and challenges with an optimistic, can-do attitude. Leads by example.
• Communication- Timely, clear and proactive communication that minimizes “surprises”. Someone who leverages our vital conversations philosophy and training.
• Technical Skills- Advanced technical expertise and understanding with the ability to take complex vision, theory, and challenges and translate them into actionable, understandable steps for their team. Ability to coach and advise staff in the execution of their activities, and provide input to supervisors and customers in the composition of their requests.
• People Development- Identifies team member strengths and weaknesses, and appropriately coaches and develops them. Helps team members plan to attain their future development goals.
• Customer Focused– Empathy and advocacy for both internal and externalcustomers.
• Organizational- Develops relationships within the company to be effective and identifies the need for, and develops systems and tools to support the team. Strong company and product knowledge.

• Establish, track, and publish departmental metrics, taking necessary steps to achievegoals
• Conceptualize and develop products using sound mechanical engineeringprinciples
• Develop and maintain cost projections against an established target throughoutdevelopment
• Ensure product quality, in part thru functional as well as accelerated life and abusivetesting
• Provide quality assurance for all groupoutput
• Address acute product issues and requests forsupport
• Lead and support cost reductioninitiatives
• Drive focused innovation andexperimentation
• Participate in various projects as requested by the EngineeringManager
• Train designers working on ApplicationsEngineering.
• Independently develop workable designconcepts.
• Check for mistakes which cause rework andmistakes.
• Document changes to projects or jobs and ensure proper documentationoccurs.
• Make recommendations on products, designs, and materials for costimprovement.
• Liaise with the manufacturing team to ensure design is executed correctly and withintimelines.
• Collaborate with purchasing supporting supply chain sourcing including deviation technicalsupport.
• Proactively provide technical support for shopproduction.
• Assist in the development of specifications for new products and productenhancements
• Support vendors in componentfabrication
• Proactively manage all the necessarymaterials.
• Proactively list and implement all projecttasks
• Serve as a technical resource to otherdepartments
• Oversee the designers’ day to day workload andproductivity
• Create and maintain project plans, task listings andtimelines
• Document and enforce company and departmental processes andprocedures
• Perform periodic and annual performancereviews
• Conduct periodic group meetings andhuddles
• Respond to management prioritization of product designenhancements
• Establish an employee developmentprogram
• Develop an approved 3-5 year staffing plan and maintain appropriate staffinglevels
• Develop and maintain organized supporting designcalculations
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of CAD product models and layouts inSolidworks
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of CAD product detail drawings inAutoCAD
• Oversee the finite element analysis of Solidworksmodels
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of product bills of material and routings in our ERPsystem
• Manage engineering changenotices
• Generate manuals to accompany product, whenrequired.
• Comprehend the project objectives, create and manage design standards and direct the design to thisend.
• Control design and build targets related to customerrequirements.
• Attend project kick off meetings, site visits, department meetings and project debriefmeetings.
• Collaborate with the installation team and respond to questions and/or problems before and during the installation stage of projects as required.

Requirements:

• Minimum College Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology or related field. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering an asset.
• Solidworks training courses an asset.
• P.Eng. designation an asset.
• AutoCAD certification preferred.
• Maintain valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
• Maintain valid passport with ability to travel in North America as needed, less than 10%.
• 10+ years of related experience as a Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Designer or related position.
• Exceptional skills using Solidworks PDM Professional in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in system integration of electro-mechanical equipment and conveyors.
• Proven experience working in Lean manufacturing environment, methods, and process improvement programs.
• Proficiency computer and metrics skills: ERP Syteline CSI, Teams, Microsoft 365 (Co-Pilot, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Smartsheet
• Previous design experience applying Finite Element Analysis & Geometric Tolerancing and Dimensioning.

Core Competencies, Interpersonal & IntrapersonalSkills:

• A role model for Gorbel®values
• Project, task, and staff managementskills
• Above average communication effectiveness; speaks, listens and writes in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• History of communicating up, down and throughout the organization encouraging candor andclarity.
• Foster Teamwork: work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of theorganization.
• Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities matrix with solid analytical skills.
• Proven track record to build strong positive relationships with internal and external customers, actively listens to and understands impact on others.
• Able to assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
• Manufacturing and business acumen with a positive attitude, behaves ethically and a willingness tolearn.
• Proactive, self-starter, with initiative and ability to operate with minimalsupervision.
• Able to navigate a team of technical professionals involved in multipleprojects.
• Organized and able to communicate multiple timelines andschedules.
• Critical thinking and problem-solvingskills.
• Collaborate within a team environment to pursue solutions tochallenges.
• Managing the scope and pace of change aligning priorities and resources to effectively multitask with attention to detail, while concurrently meeting the requirements of timely deadlines.

• Ability to work under pressure with high tolerance for interruptions, and the ability to work with diverse groups of people with ambiguity and have a flexible approach.
• Creates an open, positive work environment to stimulate opendiscussions.
• Commits to a course of action despite incomplete information, ifrequired.
• Demonstrates integrity, elicits trust and emotionalcapacity.
• Encourages constructive questioning to achieve collectivesuccess.
• Demonstrates the ability to cross train others and can articulate mandates, goals, and outcomes of theirposition.
• Practice’s flexibility, transparency and fairness in all day-to-day activities andactions.
• Encourages and incorporates diverse and creative initiatives andperspectives.

WorkingConditions:

• Works in office and manufacturing facility with flexibility for travel to off-sitemeetings
• Usually works a standard forty (40) hour workweek
• May be required to work some overtime hours to attend meetings or meet organizational needs
• May experience tight deadlines and stressful conditions attimes
• Must be able to manage frequent interruptions and multiple tasksdaily
• Ability to move around factory workstations, and lift from 25 to 50 pounds, walking andstairs
• Sitting, working at desk/personal computer for extendedperiods