Position: R&D Engineer
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Location: Claremore, Oklahoma
Department: Research and Development
Reports to: Industrial Engineer
Overview:
Hayden Industrial, a leading manufacturer of industrial cooling systems, is seeking a R&D Engineer to join our team. In this position, you will lead assigned product lines across customer application, product strategy, manufacturing readiness, and cross-functional product release.
Key Responsibilities:
Application Engineering
- Provide technical expertise in the application of air-cooled heat exchangers, dry coolers, CRAHs, and related air-cooled systems across core market sectors.
- Support sales and business development teams with product selection, sizing, customization, and proposal generation.
- Develop and maintain application tools, selection software, and technical documentation.
- Serve as a technical liaison with customers, consultants, and contractors to ensure solutions meet project requirements.
- Take direct ownership of selected application engineering activities for the CRAH product line, including system selection, configuration support, and application guidance.
Product Line Leadership
- Own and manage the product lifecycle for assigned product lines, from concept through launch, market support, and ongoing improvement.
- Gather and prioritize product requirements through customer feedback, competitive analysis, market research, and internal operational input.
- Define product specifications, feature enhancements, and performance targets in alignment with business goals.
- Lead pricing, value positioning, and target margin logic for assigned product lines in coordination with Sales and leadership.
- Maintain clear ownership of roadmap priorities, product direction, and cross-functional decision-making.
Engineering / R&D Interface
- Act as the primary interface between the product line and Engineering / R&D teams for assigned products.
- Translate customer needs, market requirements, and product-line priorities into clear engineering and development requirements.
- Work with Engineering / R&D to define validation priorities, performance targets, and release criteria for new products and product enhancements.
- Review development progress and ensure proposed solutions align with application needs, manufacturability, cost targets, and product strategy.
- Coordinate engineering sign-off and cross-functional readiness prior to manufacturing release.
- Support product change management and continuous improvement by ensuring field feedback, manufacturing input, and customer requirements are reflected in development priorities.
Manufacturing Readiness and Product Industrialization
- Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure products are designed and released with manufacturability, repeatability, and cost-effective delivery in mind.
- Review product designs and proposed changes for manufacturability, production feasibility, and operational readiness prior to release.
- Support the transition from development to production by identifying and resolving product-readiness risks early.
- Balance customization, standardization, cost, and delivery performance across the product line.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on manufacturing feedback, field experience, and customer application learnings.
- Support ownership and coordination of product approvals and certifications, including UL, CE, EMC, and other applicable requirements.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in HVAC, heat exchangers, mission-critical cooling systems, or related thermal equipment.
- Solid understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and air / fluid dynamics.
- Experience with product development, cross-functional release processes, and product-line support in a technical manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturability, production readiness, and practical engineering trade-offs in a manufacturing setting.
- Familiarity with product-line management, lifecycle ownership, or product strategy in a technical environment.
- Proficient with thermal modelling, selection software, and CAD tools.
- Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Engineering, R&D, Manufacturing, Sales, Supply Chain, Quality, and customer teams.
Supervisor Responsibility:
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
Work Environment:
Non-temperature controlled environment with loud noises, dust, dirt, and metal particles that are usually associated with metal fabrication shops. All employees are required to wear personal protective equipment to include noise/hearing protection, safety glasses with side shields, (paint masks, respirator, when required) and OSHA compliant safety boots/shoes within the manufacturing facility.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing duties of this job, the employee in this position is regularly required to stand for long periods of time. This position requires walking, the ability to reach, ascend/descend ladders, bend, kneel, and stoop. The employee occasionally will lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Thursday, 5:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Travel:
No travel is required for this position.
Benefits:
Hayden Industrial offers a generous benefits package including comprehensive health, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, a generous paid time off schedule, and professional development opportunities.
AAP/EEO Statement:
Hayden Industrial is an equal employment opportunity employer. Hayden Industrial recognizes and embraces federal legislation on equal employment opportunity and is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination. All applicants for employment and all employees will be afforded equal opportunity and treatment, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability status or other protected status. All employees are responsible for complying with all applicable Federal, State and Local Laws, rules and regulations regarding non-discrimination practices.