R&D Engineering Director (Bearings)

Job Title: R&D Engineering Director (Bearings)

Location: Simpsonville, SC

Reports to: Vice President of Engineering

Employment Type: Full-time

Seniority Level: Senior Level

Industry: Manufacturing | Mechanical Power Transmission Components | Engineering Services

Job Function: Engineering | Management | Research & Development

Job Summary: The R&D Engineering Director - Bearings will serve as the global leader of bearing design innovation for Dodge Industrial. This individual will spearhead major R&D and design initiatives, establish and enforce design standards, and lead global collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and product development teams. The role is pivotal in maintaining Dodge’s market leadership in bearing performance, quality, and reliability.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Technical Excellence
• Act as a leader for the team and maintain responsibility to drive improved decision-making skills and advanced educational development for all team members.
• Create an environment of innovation, collaboration, and high technical proficiency within the team.
• Prioritize work, identify competency needs and define/execute any necessary actions to fill required competency gaps.
• Demonstrates sound fundamental technical proficiency across all product areas of responsibility.
• Emphasis on critical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem solving.

2. Innovation & Creativity
• Lead the team in creating new and innovative solutions that exceed the performance of current technologies.
• Demonstrates an entrepreneurial innovative spirit to R&D projects with own unique and creative ideas.
• Requires team members to follow-up on projects and activities within own technical area.

3. Projects, Processes & Tools
• Demonstrates sound understanding of, and actively applies, R&D processes and tools.
• Examples include sound communication capabilities, advanced project management processes, advanced understanding of business planning including all financial aspects required to support financial funding of a project.

4. Knowledge Transfer
• Actively teaches own technical/scientific knowledge to less skilled colleagues in applying processes and tools to ensure timely and high-quality results.
• Shows solid documentation skills and writes technical reports independently.

5. Strategic Vision & Leadership
• Act as a strategic leader for the team of engineers across assigned product areas.
• Create a strategic vision for R&D Engineering based on customer-based input.
• Encourage team members to be creative with identifying opportunities to enhance our products in a unique way, or to develop innovative ways to solve market problems.

Required Qualifications:
• Advanced degree (master’s or Ph.D.) in Tribology or Mechanical Engineering required.
• Expertise in rolling element bearing design, analysis, and performance testing.
• Advanced knowledge of tribology, lubrication, and material behavior under load.
• Proven leadership in bearing innovation and global engineering projects.
• Deep understanding of bearing manufacturing processes (machining, heat treatment, assembly).
• Strong proficiency in CAD, FEA, and analytical modeling of stress and fatigue.
• Experience establishing and maintaining global design standards and technical governance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional engineering teams and complex projects.
• Experience with mechanical power transmission and rotating equipment preferred.
• Familiarity with digital bearing diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and IIoT integration.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma, DFMEA, and Lean methodologies
• Executive communication and strategic planning abilities
• Proven success influencing global R&D or product strategy

Physical Demands:
• Extended periods of sitting and/or standing at a workstation
• Ability to type, reach, and grasp
• 15-20% travel to meet with clients or attend meetings (overnight travel as needed)
• Able to carry, lift, and pull up to 50 lbs.
• Reach, climb, crawl, walk
• Speak and present in person or virtually to individuals and large groups

Essential Job Functions:
• Manage a team of engineers by prioritizing work with a focus on project execution and innovative creation.
• Create a strategic vision for R&D Engineering roadmap based on customer-based input.
• Responsible for managing cost center expenses relative to approved budgets.
• LEAN tools to create standardized test procedures and design standards.
• Actively and routinely oversee, observe, and/or assist with product testing, post-test teardowns, and test reports.
• Champion intellectual property strategies that include financial justification, value to RBC, and support long-term competitive growth initiatives.
• Drive process improvements in alignment with the strategy to continuously improve the team’s effectiveness while improving the customer experience.
• Identify competency gaps or future needs and develop the necessary competencies in the team that are required to support the business.
• Act as the Technical Expert in situations that require legal consultation or audits.
• Occasional travel to attend technical events, and strategic meetings or planning events.
• Collaborate with other business functions, including manufacturing, supply chain, product management, Application Engineering, and quality.
• Drive design enhancements lean/continuous improvement projects, which may include laboratory testing, design, and qualification.
• Drive major R&D Engineering projects and teach less skilled colleagues to improve overall Engineering and customer performance.
• Attendance at work is an essential function of the job.

Why Join Us?
• Work alongside a collaborative, experienced leadership team.
• Be part of an industry leader with a strong brand reputation and an innovation-driven culture.

RBC Bearings is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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