Prototype Manager Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Description

From creating our products to keeping our facilities operating smoothly, it takes a lot to keep Vortex running. It takes people who can solve problems creatively. It takes hard work and a dedication to the team. It takes a lot because Vortex is a different kind of employer. Here, we reward your devotion to putting others first by making sure you get the benefits and support you need to excel in your work and in your life. We return your commitment by committing ourselves to helping you advance in your career while getting the time with your friends and family you deserve.

Vortex Optics is looking for a talented individual to join our New Product Development (NPD) team. As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for executing product planning for finished goods aimed at expanding Vortex current capabilities. This is achieved by collaborating with cross functional teams, ideating new product innovation, management of the product throughout its lifecycle, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the product vision, and working closely with suppliers and the Marketing team to deliver winning products. You will also be responsible for working with others to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met, and that the product efforts support the company's overall strategy and goals, along with communicating the initiatives and progress to Senior Leadership. This position will focus on a new and existing product categories across the entire Vortex sports optics product line.

What You'll Be Doing

• Execution of product roadmaps to enable achievement of product strategic goals.
• Execution of NPD process documentation and tracking for multiple concurrent products.
• Ensure all tasks are completed on target and on time through cross functional team efforts to bring new products to market.
• Collaborate with Marketing team to conduct periodic market research to stay current on consumer insight, trends, new products and packaging.
• Coordinate with Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain on the development of new products.
• Develop new product requirements based on market studies and customer feedback.
• Lead focus group teams in development of new products.
• Collaborate with a team of Industrial Designers and Engineers to complete projects at a quality level on time.
• Collaborate with Purchasing on supplier selection and development.
• Lead regular meetings to key stakeholders on the status of NPD.
• Regularly communicate with vendors, factories, and partners throughout NPD process.
• Aid engineers, as necessary in engineering and design of technical aspects of new products.
• Test new product prototypes to determine requirement compliance. Communicate non-compliance with factories/partners to get next prototype within compliance.
• Further develop, refine, enforce, and foster continuous improvement of NPD Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and product testing SOPs.
• Aid in building tools to automate and monitor NPD processes and SOPs for compliance and continuous improvement.
• Disseminate final product specifications to all company stakeholders as necessary.
• Point of contact for patent development on new products and features by writing invention disclosures and working with lawyers and in-house Legal Division Manager to create patents.
• Responsible for partnering with sales and sales forecasting departments on producing, maintaining, and updating new product forecasts.
• Responsible for assisting with product P&L.
• Participation in execution and analysis of facts and trends of the product categories, competitive product entries and consumer usage and attitudes with internal and external resources; recommend action to capitalize on profit opportunities or correct problem areas.
• Travel to vendors, partners, and factories to include domestic and foreign travel.
• Estimated domestic travel averages 1-4 days per month. 
• Estimated foreign travel 1-3 trips per year, each trip lasting 1-2 weeks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or similar. 
• Minimum 5 years of Engineering or closely related experience.
• Minimum 2 years Project Management experience with demonstrable success managing multiple simultaneous projects for NPD.
• Experience in new product innovation methods, business case analysis, product definition & tradeoffs, design verification and manufacturing validation, new product introduction approaches and product lifecycle management.
• Strong knowledge of product development systems and tools.
• Ability to analyze complex data, situations and develop range of solutions.
• Excellent written and presentation skills.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from Project Management Institute (PMI) or equivalent.
• Master's degree in technical or business field.
• Have documented experience obtaining utility and design patents.
• 3 years engineering of consumer products.

When you join Team Vortex, you'll enjoy:

• Great health, dental and vision insurance
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• 401(k), life insurance and short- and long-term disability
• Employee Ownership Opportunities
• Various onsite amenities including a fitness center, a nature preserve with walking trails and dog friendly work areas
• Neighboring daycare facility
• Casual and flexible work environment
• Employee discounts on industry leading products

What's it like to join Team Vortex?

From the production floor to the repair room, from consumer sales to new product development, we're a growing team of makers and doers, working together to give our customers an experience they'll never forget. Our employees thrive in situations that require demonstrating our core values:

• About You
• Customer is King
• Willingness to Shovel Snow
• Be the Buffalo

*Must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer.

*This is a full-time position working onsite in Barneveld, WI. Relocation assistance may be available.