Design Engineering Manager in Hebron, KY at ANCRA INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Job Description

The Organization

Ancra Cargo is a worldwide leader in the sales and supply of cargo securement and automatic loading and unloading systems for trailers. Headquartered in Hebron, Kentucky, we sell, design and build, with a team of approximately 200 employees, standard and customized solutions for our clients in various markets. We strive to introduce new methods, ideas, and products through our research and development in the cargo community. We are an ambitious, professional, and dynamic organization with internal growth.  

The team is very important; when we do a job, we do it together. Our success is based on entrepreneurship and a no-nonsense mentality in a professional environment. Our predominantly informal organization maintains an "open door policy" and is determined to achieve set objectives. Ancra is a place where you will make a difference and will see the difference that you are making every day. At Ancra, we strive to push responsibilities, authority and decision making to the right levels of the organization and give you the independence to create success in your role. Ancra Cargo is a world-class leader in the area of cargo handling and restraint systems. Founded in 1969 with the mission to improve safety and security for the transportation industry, we have grown to be North America’s largest designer and manufacturer of load maximizing systems.  Ancra is also the leader in decking systems with over 100,000 sold. With over 100 current patents, Ancra Cargo is dedicated to innovating, designing, and manufacturing the highest quality products to meet the evolving needs of our customers including military, heavy duty cargo, and consumer/industrial demands.

Ancra Cargo has been awarded a Top Workplaces honor by Enquirer Media in Cincinnati, OH for the fourth consecutive year. The list is based solely on employee feedback and uniquely measures culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization.

Key Responsibilities and Priorities:

• Lead, mentor and develop team of design engineers and drafters and assign tasks as required to ensure quality and consistency of mechanical and/or electrical/software design across all Ancra Cargo products.
• With engineering team, design, develop and prototype new products in accordance with company Product Development Process (PDP) requirements.
• Establish, refine and maintain Ancra Cargo design standards (ECS-101C and ECS-103C)
• Own the product data management process and systems associated.
• Identify and implement new technologies or processes to increase the capabilities of Ancra Cargo Engineering.
• Evaluate the feasibility of concepts and/or prototypes through engineering testing and analysis, consistent with customer expectation.
• Develop timelines and cost estimates for development tasks and appraise management of performance against plan.
• Evaluate, document, and implement potential design and process changes to improve product performance, manufacturability, safety, or cost.
• Strong knowledge of good manufacturing practices, quality system requirements, and internal procedures.
• Obtain components/supplies/equipment to support prototype assembly and conduct preliminary OEM vendor assessment/selection.
• Assess reliability, safety, performance and risk of new designs & methodologies.
• Coordinate and communicate development schedules and compatibility or design issues throughout the team.
• Support sales and marketing functions through attendance at trade shows and customer visits.
• Provide input into the creation/modification of Product Specifications in alignment with Customer Requirements

Key Metrics include:

• Drawing accuracy – drawings are free from drafting errors, dimensions and tolerances have been checked and are appropriate for the type of product, manufacturing process and mate as required, special effectivity is noted.
• Turn-around time – Establish and maintain a baseline for drawing turn-around time for simple.
• Design accuracy and validation – Designs are tested virtually and physically as appropriate and meet requirements for strength, finish, durability, etc.
• Product Quality: Through proper design and manufacturing methods, strive for zero quality defects or customer returns.