Product Validation Engineering Manager

Material Handling – We bring the muscle. The most complete lifting company in the world, Lanco represents four iconic, world-class heavy equipment manufacturers, mobile crane dealerships across US and Canada, the largest parts and service network in North America, and factory-authorized technician training.

Our Material Handling Division, which spans across MiJack RTG cranes, Broderson industrial cranes, LiftKing forklifts, and Greenfield equipment, is hiring a Product Validation Engineering Manager. In this role, you will plan, set up, and execute complex, non-routine development, functional, and performance tests of cranes, forklifts, and related sub-systems. You will focus on enhancing safety, performance, and reliability through effective testing and collaboration within the engineering department. The role involves conducting specialized tasks to support new product development and sustainment activities, ensuring that our material handling products meet and exceed customer needs. Additionally, you will uphold the company’s culture, mission, and values by ensuring compliance with policies and procedures and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Essential Functions:

Uphold company policies and procedures to ensure a harmonious working environment and strong working relationships.

Operate and manage testing of vehicles and material handling equipment, including RTG cranes, forklifts, and industrial cranes. This involves preparing, selecting, calibrating, and installing the correct instrumentation such as load cells, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and flowmeters, ensuring data integrity and coverage.

Conduct comprehensive evaluations of machine performance, diagnose malfunctions, isolate problems, and recommend improvements based on trends and issues identified in test data.

Execute component, full machine, and system level tests to confirm product adherence to safety, performance standards, and customer expectations. Document results in formal technical reports including conclusions and recommendations, and log non-conformance via JIRA tickets.

Provide technical support to align validation processes with product development initiatives. Supervise field test activities, including necessary travel, to ensure comprehensive product validation.

Direct new product introduction validation efforts, ensuring timely and thorough testing in alignment with engineering specifications. Anticipate and adapt to technological changes in the industry to maintain departmental readiness for validation of new and existing products.

Develop and maintain relationships with external test facilities and technical experts to enhance validation capabilities. Benchmark competitive equipment to confirm our product lines are “best in class” and identify areas for improvement.

Demonstrate extensive experience with data acquisition tools like LabView, DEWESoft, INCA, and CANalyzer, and in-depth knowledge of electrical, mechanical, engine, and hydraulic systems. Apply root-cause identification and problem-solving skills effectively.

Strategic planning of validation schedules and resources to meet project timelines and budget constraints while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy.

Coach, mentor, and provide direction to the Testing Validation Team, fostering professional growth and technical proficiency. Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

Comprehensive knowledge of product validation practices, with a focus on testing for heavy machinery.

Skilled in applying technical knowledge to support and enhance engineering practices.

Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with the engineering team and external partners.

Capable of managing multiple validation projects under tight deadlines with a focus on safety and quality.

Demonstrated knowledge of electrical, mechanical, engine, and hydraulic systems.

Demonstrated root-cause identification and problem-solving skills.

Anticipate and adapt to technological changes in the industry, ensuring departmental readiness for validation of new and existing products.

Ability to coach, mentor, and provide direction to the Testing Validation Team, fostering professional growth and technical proficiency. Work Environment:

This is primarily an office classification, and employees work in an office with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. May work offsite in various environments; travel may be required.

Physical & Travel Demands:

The position occasionally bends, stoops, reaches, pushes and pulls drawers to retrieve and file information and lifts and carries reports, records, and other materials that typically weigh less than 30 pounds.

Up to 25% domestic and international travel may be required. Required Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics engineering, or a related field.

10+ years of experience in product validation, with a particular focus on mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic systems in the heavy equipment or material handling industry.

5+ years of supervisory experience with a track record of leading successful teams is essential.

Experience with LabView, DEWESoft, INCA, or CANalyzer.

Experience selecting, calibrating, and utilizing test equipment/instrumentation (thermocouples, pressure transducers, flowmeters, etc.) and data acquisition tools (DEWESoft, INCA, CANalyzer).

A master’s degree in a related engineering field is preferred.

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Lanco is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline (including termination), evaluation, training, and development opportunities, etc., are made without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender-related identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, military status, protected disability, citizenship, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable law.