Engineering Manager - Product Development (51531)

Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.

Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Why work here

At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design.

It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.

Position Summary:

The Product Development Engineering Manager is responsible for leading Gradian’s technology development, product innovation, and pre-commercial engineering initiatives. This role focuses on developing new technologies, validating concepts, and creating future product platforms that support the company's long-term growth strategy.

The Product Development Engineering Manager bridges the gap between research and production by transforming ideas into proven technologies ready for New Product Development (NPD) and commercialization. This leader drives technical innovation, prototype development, testing, and technology readiness while ensuring alignment with customer needs, market trends, and manufacturing capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technology & Innovation Leadership
  • Own the technology roadmap for future HVAC products and systems.
  • Evaluate and develop new concepts, technologies, and product architectures.
  • Lead feasibility studies and proof-of-concept projects.
• New Product Development (NPD)
  • Own the NPD stage-gate process from concept through launch.
  • Ensure projects meet scope, cost, schedule, and performance targets.
  • Lead cross-functional design reviews and gate approvals.
  • Drive timely execution of development programs.
• Product Design & Engineering Leadership
  • Provide technical leadership for design and product architecture.
  • Establish design standards, engineering best practices, and development methodologies.
  • Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability requirements
     
• Product Validation & Qualification
  • Oversee prototype builds and validation testing.
  • Lead DFMEA, risk assessments, and design verification activities.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and certifications (ETL, UL, etc.
     
• Product Standardization & Platform Development
  • Drive standardization initiatives across product lines.
  • Develop scalable product platforms and configurable designs.
  • Reduce complexity through modular design strategies.
  • Improve engineering efficiency through design reuse and standardization.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop PD engineers and product development personnel.
  • Establish technical growth plans and succession planning.
  • Build a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
  • Conduct performance reviews and career development planning.
• Continuous Improvement & Technical Excellence
  • Improve development cycle times and project execution.
  • Establish lessons-learned processes across all development programs.
  • Drive root cause analysis on product performance issues.
  • Implement best practices in engineering, testing, and product development.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in HVAC, mechanical systems, or product development.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership experience.
• Experience leading New Product Development programs from concept through launch.
• Experience with design validation, testing, and product qualification methodologies.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred:

• Master's Degree in Engineering or Business.
• Experience with Stage-Gate Product Development processes.
• Experience with DFMEA, risk management, and reliability engineering.
• Experience with CFD, FEA, and engineering simulation tools.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software.
• Familiarity with UL, ETL, AHRI, ASHRAE, and applicable HVAC standards.
• Experience with product platform development and modular design strategies.
• Lean Product Development or Six Sigma experience.

Benefits:

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Group term life insurance coverage
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
• 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
• 401k matching
• Company paid events
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Education assistance program

EEO Statement:

Gradian is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.

Employment decisions at Gradian are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.