Senior Manager, Product Engineering

Staples is business to business. You’re what binds us together.

Our merchandising team aims to deliver the best value and selection to our customers through products, services and solutions all centered around our customers’ needs. We are driven by customer insights and analytics to bring products and solutions to market seamlessly. We’re inclusive, well-rounded professionals who have deep experience in buying, selling, negotiating, operations, design, innovation, finance and more.

What you will be doing:

The Senior Manager of Product Engineering plays a critical role in the development of new products and the continuous improvement of existing products and supports the Product Development, Global Sourcing & Operations leadership team. You will closely collaborate with the Design & Innovation team on new innovation projects, and you will interface regularly with Product Engineering and Sourcing associates in our European and Asian offices. You will be the primary Product Engineering point of contact in the Staples US corporate office for the private brands team.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all product engineering related needs in the US corporate office.
• Participate in new product sample reviews and provide technical guidance to debug prototypes.
• Participate in strategic innovation initiatives that are led by the Design and Innovation team.
• Support the innovation function within the private brands team with technical support and project execution guidance. Drive product engineering design fundamentals to improve manufacturability, reduce cost, improve product performance, and guarantee product reliability.
• Interface regularly with Product Engineering and Sourcing associates in the European and Asian sourcing offices.
• Provide technical expertise to drive continuous improvement of the existing private brands products.
• Travel to global factories and sourcing offices as needed for new development projects and continuous improvement projects
• Work closely with the Quality team to provide technical guidance related to quality improvement projects.
• Collaborate with senior members of the Product Development, Global Sourcing and Operations leadership team that will drive future strategy for the functions in the coming 3 - 5 years.
• Provide expertise related to needed short term adjustments to the current strategies for the functions.
• Support and occasionally lead sustainability initiatives for the private brands team.
  
  

What You Bring To The Table

• Deep knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and product design
• Strong understanding of consumer goods product development
• Quick learner and a creative problem solver with strong analytical skills
• Experience working in product manufacturing
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Adaptability to fast-paced and evolving environments.
• Ability to inspire and drive innovation within the team.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on cross-functional partnerships.
• Strong technical acumen with expertise in engineering principles, manufacturing processes, and quality assurance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
  
  

What Needed (Basic Qualification)

• Bachelor’s Degree Engineering, Product Development, or a related technical field; or equivalent work experience
• 8+ years of experience in product engineering, product development, or related fields.
• 3+ years of experience in managing engineering teams and leading cross-functional projects.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and modern engineering tools.
• Knowledge of industry standards, compliance requirements, and best practices.
• Experience working in a highly regulated industry (e.g., automotive, medical devices, aerospace).
• Strong experience in product lifecycle management (PLM) systems and data analytics.
  
  

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• Flexible PTO (22 days) and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays)
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!