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 and warehouse/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

Day Shift (Canada)

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.

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Responsibilities

• Completes designs and drawings (use 3D and/or 2D design software) for the manufacture of mechanical & electrical systems utilizing mechanical & electrical design resources.

• Provide leadership, coaching, development, and management for Applications Engineering staff

• 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 workload queue

• Resource planning, allocation and tracking

• Develop, document, implement and enforce group processes and procedures

• 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 external customers.

• 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 achieve goals

• Conceptualize and develop products using sound mechanical engineering principles

• Develop and maintain cost projections against an established target throughout development

• Ensure product quality, in part thru functional as well as accelerated life and abusive testing

• Provide quality assurance for all group output

• Address acute product issues and requests for support

• Lead and support cost reduction initiatives

• Drive focused innovation and experimentation

• Participate in various projects as requested by the Engineering Manager

• Train designers working on Applications Engineering.

• Independently develop workable design concepts.

• Check for mistakes which cause rework and mistakes.

• Document changes to projects or jobs and ensure proper documentation occurs.

• Make recommendations on products, designs, and materials for cost improvement.

• Liaise with the manufacturing team to ensure design is executed correctly and within timelines.

• Collaborate with purchasing supporting supply chain sourcing including deviation technical support.

• Proactively provide technical support for shop production.

• Assist in the development of specifications for new products and product enhancements

• Support vendors in component fabrication

• Proactively manage all the necessary materials.

• Proactively list and implement all project tasks

• Serve as a technical resource to other departments

• Oversee the designers’ day to day workload and productivity

• Create and maintain project plans, task listings and timelines

• Document and enforce company and departmental processes and procedures

• Perform periodic and annual performance reviews

• Conduct periodic group meetings and huddles

• Respond to management prioritization of product design enhancements

• Establish an employee development program

• Develop an approved 3-5 year staffing plan and maintain appropriate staffing levels

• Develop and maintain organized supporting design calculations

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of CAD product models and layouts in Solidworks

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of CAD product detail drawings in AutoCAD

• Oversee the finite element analysis of Solidworks models

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of product bills of material and routings in our ERP system

• Manage engineering change notices

• Generate manuals to accompany product, when required.

• Comprehend the project objectives, create and manage design standards and direct the design to this end.

• Control design and build targets related to customer requirements.

• Attend project kick off meetings, site visits, department meetings and project debrief meetings.

• 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%.

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10 + years of related experience as a Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Designer or related position.

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Exceptional skills using Solidworks PDM Professional in an industrial manufacturing environment.

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Proficiency in system integration of electro-mechanical equipment and conveyors.

• Proven experience working in Lean manufacturing environment, methods, and process improvement programs.

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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 & Intrapersonal Skills

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