Product Line Engineering Manager

Job Summary

The Product Line Engineering (PLE) Manager is the top leader of an LCP program at Harley-Davidson and is accountable to define, gain alignment, and deliver all aspects of the program. They own motorcycle scope, design, and development and are responsible for setting clear expectations aligned with requirements that exceed customer expectations. The PLE Manager will coach, guide, mentor, and empower the Program Leadership Team (PLT) and other program stakeholders to ensure delivery of great motorcycles, accessories, and overall customer riding experience. The PLE Manager is the cross-functional program leader fully accountable for all aspects of its success.

Job Responsibilities

• Program Scope: 
  
  • Define program scope definition by partnering with Motorcycle Management, Design Studio, Engineering Vehicle & Systems teams to deliver a vision for the program that achieves its strategic and business objectives with minimal investment of resources, capital, and expense.
• Program Requirements: 
  
  • Document compelling How We Win and Table Stakes requirements that define the most critical product attributes to ensure program success, as well as program fences (MY Timing, Vehicle Cost, Investment). Help the team translate program requirements into vehicle, system, and component levels that define what good looks like and focus the team to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Product Development: 
  
  • Lead and prioritize the development activities across the team. Relentlessly maintain the team’s focus on what matters most to ensure the program progresses to plan and that work products meet expectations and will maintain program fences. Ensure solutions that are efficient, durable, and manufacturable and aligned with the program’s intent.
• Program Operations: 
  
  • Lead the program’s day-to-day business through the PLT to ensure high quality work products, transparent issue escalation, and robust solutions. Utilize metrics to drive the program and prioritize work to mitigate risk prior to issue realization.
• Program Communication: 
  
  • Ensure robust communication up and down the leadership chain so expectations are clear, team members have a rich understanding of context and oversight teams (e.g. PDL) understand high-level status, risks & issues and plans. 

Education Requirements

Education Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field is required 
• Master’s degree in engineering or related field preferred

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant engineering experience.  
• Broad motorcycle development experience and knowledge.
• Demonstrated success in leading and delivering high impact motorcycle projects involving complex interactions across cross-functional stakeholders from program definition through production implementation. 
• Experience operating within a formal product development process and leading program management activities including critical path timelines, program budgets, resource allocation, quality planning, and issue resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to make robust, lasting decisions and to optimize tradeoffs across multiple stakeholder inputs.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical and business subjects in a clear, concise manner to multiple levels of the organization and work with diverse global teams both internally and externally. 
• Experience mentoring others either within or adjacent to your direct supervision.