Technical Director

Technical Director, Thordon Bearings Inc. /Thomson Gordon Group

Thordon Bearings Inc., a Thomson-Gordon Group company, is an innovative 100 year old family business that has grown into a global leader in high-performance polymer bearing technology focusing on merchant marine, cruise, navy/coast guard, workboat, clean power generation, vertical pump, industrial and aviation markets.

We are seeking an experienced highly motivated Technical Director to join our Engineering team in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. This is a position intended to take the lead in developing corporate technical expertise, capabilities, products and an innovative approach to new products and technologies that will support the corporate strategic plan and drive company growth. The Technical Director will play a key role in the development of Thordon Bearings center of technical excellence and innovation to support the long-term growth of the bearings business.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Overall Responsibility for the Applications Engineering/Technical Functions/NPD of the Company.
• Provide technical support to other corporate divisions as requested.
• Responsibilities include assisting in cost budgeting, setting financial targets and developing business strategy.
• Management of Engineering Services to ensure that technically sound information, solutions, services are provided in a manner that comply with international standards, assess risk and meet or exceed the expectations of both internal and external clients.
• Provide engineering and technical expertise from a commercial perspective and promote/communicate solutions to technical challenges based on their commercial merits. This will require working regularly with the Commercial team and representing the company at any commercial business functions where a technical presence is required.
• Management of the CAD Engineering Services to ensure timely and correct preparation of drawings and specifications that fulfill the requirements of the customers and manufacturing.
• Management of the technical/applications engineering quality system to ensure adherence and to provide guidance and direction in conjunction with the Quality Manager on enhancing the quality system.
• Take lead responsibility for developing and supporting the launch of new products to market. The likelihood and timeliness of success of new products that are brought to market will be enhanced by ensuring that both the voice of the customer and any anticipated technical issues and risk are incorporated into the process for consideration at as early a stage as possible in the development cycle.
• Help identify strategic new product business opportunities and recommending appropriate action plans for management approval. This includes analysis of Return on Investment (ROI) for the product.
• Provide support for developing costing models and ensure target pricing/margins are met in cooperation with sales and marketing.
• Ensure that the NPD Team are appropriately managed, equipped, resourced, motivated and properly trained.
• Develop project management process and metrics which can be used to monitor performance of the NPD group as well as guide decision making for maximum performance of the group.
• Develop practices of product validation which protect the company against liability while maintaining an effective product introduction timeline.
• Evaluation of the staff and identification of training and development needs to promote long-term growth.
• To support GSS (Global Support Services Team) department with technical requirements.
• To provide information and advice to the Customer Service to ensure correctness of technical aspects of quotations.
• Automate the engineering design process through software implementation and other methods which reduce time and costs.
• To provide timely technical services to the Manufacturing Director and his department.
• To ensure that designs are engineered for ease of manufacturing and meet the original need of the customer.
• Must be able to react to change productively and to undertake other tasks as assigned.
• To support the development and launch of new products, may be required to attend major trade shows. Travel may be up to 20-30% of the time.
• Responsible for continuously working through training and mentoring to increase and raise the level of professionalism in the organization.
• Accountable for search, compliance and governance of all grants.
• Produce high quality concept papers for presentation to trade groups, at industry technical meetings.
• Develop an annual research budget, ensuring that the research activities and expenditures add the most value and are closely aligned to the corporate priorities of TG.

Job Requirements

• Relatively high level of analytical ability to solve complex problems
• Marine experience an asset
• Ability to read blueprints and engineering drawings
• High level of interpersonal skills to work effectively with others, motivates employees and elicit work output
• Willingness to recognize areas for personal growth, accept ideas and take action on improvement.
• Computer literate – Microsoft word, excel, database application, internet/e-mail.
• Solid understanding of business fundamentals
• Strong leadership skills

Minimum Qualifications

• P.Eng. Mechanical Engineering
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the Marine/Hydro/Clean Power Industry
• 5+ years of management experience

Competencies Required for Success

• Exceptional problem solving and decision making skills
• Effective communication and ability to build rapport with subordinates
• Able to adapt to a changing work environment
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize and plan work activities
• Ability to use forward thinking and support innovation
• Requires good judgment and a professional demeanor
• Committed to a high standard of ethical business practices and personal conduct