Head Of Product Development Jobs in Rochester, NY

Ultralife Corporation is a leading provider of advanced, highest quality products and services ranging from power solutions to communications and electronics systems to customers across the globe in the government & defense, medical, safety & security, energy, industrial and robotics sectors.

We are a global business with strategic locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, ideally positioned to service global customers.

We are looking for a motivated and experienced leader to manage our New Product Development (NPD) department in Newark, NY, overseeing the team of multidisciplinary engineers and project managers. In this role, you will drive the end-to-end product development cycle, from initial concept through production, and collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful outcomes. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, practical & hands-on engineering expertise, proven project management skills, and a drive to getting things done. 

Essential Responsibilities:

Primary – responsibilities as primary drivers of the position:

• Product Development Management: Day-to-day management all phases of product development & engineering tasks, including requirements definition, hardware/software/firmware development, testing, validation, and production transition.
• Process Ownership & Improvement: Own the planning and execution of product realization processes and ensure compliance with ISO New Product Development processes. Drive and execute Continuous Improvement. Be biased towards action. Seek out areas to improve and implement them
• Financial and Program Management: Play a key role in developing department budgets, tracking costs, and providing detailed monthly program reviews.
• Internal Collaboration: Collaborate with sales, operations, and executive leadership to execute a strategic roadmap for new product development, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Customer Interaction: Develop proposals, reports, and maintain strong relationships with current and potential customers, by being escalation point of contact for engineers.
• Team Management & Development: Hire, train, mentor, and develop staff, identifying growth opportunities and addressing training needs to build a high-performing team.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned to meet the department’s objectives.

Education / Training / Skills / Experience:  

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Leadership Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in Engineering Management at a leadership level.
• Industry Experience: Preferred background in power systems, power distribution networks, batteries (rechargeable or primary), power supplies, or battery charging systems.
• Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and firmware/software design processes and tools and interdependencies between these disciplines
• Medical Device Knowledge: Experience in the medical device industry is preferred.
•  Production Transition: Familiarity with the challenges and considerations related to transitioning products to high volume production.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with diverse stakeholders.
• Team Development: Proven ability to build, motivate, and sustain high-performing teams to meet demanding schedules, technical goals, and budget targets.
• Industry Standards: Experience designing products in accordance with ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 standards. Familiarity with IEC, UL, CE, TSO, and Military standards is a plus.
• Lean Methodology: Understanding of Lean principles in both manufacturing and product development processes.
• Program Management: Strong background in program management, with proficiency in related processes and tools.
• Organizational and Leadership Skills: Demonstrated expertise in organizational planning, creativity, and leadership.
• Multitasking: Expert ability to manage multiple projects and teams simultaneously while maintaining focus on priorities.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, especially in addressing complex technical challenges.
• Personal Attributes: Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership, initiative, passion, and a positive attitude.

Physical Requirements:

Position is sedentary in nature.  Must have the ability to utilize a computer and other office equipment.   Must have the ability to work in the plant operations areas.

Periodic travel in support of New Product Development as needed.

The wage range for this role considers the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position described above and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Ultralife Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources department via phone at 315- 332-7100