Director, Product Engineering Applications

Make your mark at the world's largest HVAC company

Daikin Applied is seeking a talented Director of Product Engineering Applications. The Director of Product Engineering Applications is responsible for leading the development, delivery, and lifecycle management of engineering tools and platforms across the enterprise. This individual will partner with cross-functional teams in Engineering, Digital, and Product to drive innovation, user adoption, and continuous improvement in engineering systems and applications that enable faster new product introduction, improved design quality, and operational efficiency. This role demands a visionary leader who can balance technical expertise with strategic thinking to ensure that our products meet market demands and set new industry standards. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Plymouth, MN - Hybrid or Remote

What you will do:

Product Strategy & Ownership:

• Define and execute the roadmap for engineering applications, including CAD/CAE, PLM, simulation, and product configuration tools.
• Partner with the leader of the PLM systems to ensure Master Data Management is aligned with the engineering needs and dependencies.
• Align product strategy with business objectives, engineering needs, and digital engineering transformation goals.
• Oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from ideation through to launch and post-launch support. Ensure products meet quality, performance, and security standards.
• Develop and implement engineering strategies that align with business goals. Assess market trends and customer needs to guide product innovations.
• Prioritize features and enhancements based on value, technical feasibility, and user feedback.
• Encourage continuous improvement and innovation within the team. Stay ahead of industry trends and integrate new technologies and methodologies.

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Collaborate with Product and Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Digital, and Product teams to ensure alignment and seamless integration across platforms.
• Serve as the voice of the engineering user base, ensuring tools and workflows enhance productivity and innovation.
• Partner with enterprise architects and solution architects to ensure technical alignment and scalability.
• Provide technical guidance to the engineering team, solving complex problems and making informed decisions about technology and architecture.
• Align with the Quality Assurance Digital Team to ensure Implement rigorous testing and quality control processes to ensure the highest standards of product performance and reliability.

Team Management & Vendor Support:

• Lead a team of product managers, business analysts, and technical experts responsible for engineering applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including marketing, sales, and customer support to ensure product success. Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Manage vendor relationships, software license agreements, and support contracts for critical engineering tools.

Change Management & Adoption:

• Drive change management strategies to improve the adoption of modern engineering tools and platforms.
• Establish training, documentation, and onboarding processes for new systems and enhancements.

Performance and Value Delivery:

• Define KPIs and metrics to track adoption, system performance, and business impact.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives based on analytics on usage, feedback, and emerging technologies.

What's in it for you:

• Medical/Dental/Vision coverage, PTO, 401K match, support for community involvement and much more
• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in engineering systems, digital product management, or related technical leadership roles
• Deep understanding of engineering tools such as PLM, CAD/CAE, simulation, and configuration management
• Proven success in managing complex digital products or platforms from concept to delivery
• Proven experience in developing and maintaining system integrations. Deep understanding of engineering principles, product development processes, and modern technology stacks
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working in matrixed organizations and driving enterprise-wide initiatives
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Deep understanding of Cloud technologies and architectures, cybersecurity and DevOps processes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Agile product development and scaled Agile frameworks
• Familiarity with manufacturing or industrial domains (e.g., HVAC)
• Prior experience leading large-scale system modernization or ERP/PLM transformation programs
• Ability to think strategically and translate business goals into actionable plans
• Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills
• Superior communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to keep up with software industry trends and latest innovation and new technology
• Understanding of internal manufacturing and production systems such as ERP, PLM, KBE and how to interface with such systems to enhance or augment their capabilities
• Relevant certifications (e.g., PLM/CAD administration, ITIL) are a plus

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Short term and long term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays
  • Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $143,000 - $240,000 (+ 30-35% bonus) in MN. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

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