Product Engineering Leader

Summit Search Group has been retained by K-Hart Industries Ltd. on the recruitment of their next Product Engineering Leader. K-Hart designs, manufactures, and globally distributes seeding and harvesting equipment for conservation-minded agricultural producers. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and product reliability, K-Hart is committed to delivering equipment that drives meaningful impact for farmers and the environment. On their behalf, we are seeking an experienced and technically strong Product Engineering Leader to provide leadership across the engineering function. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, this role will play a key part in guiding product development, supporting validation efforts, and ensuring the delivery of reliable, field-ready equipment. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organization where you will influence product innovation from concept through to field execution, while leading and mentoring a collaborative engineering team. The Opportunity The Product Engineering Leader is responsible for providing technical leadership across engineering activities, supporting both product development and validation. This role will take ownership of projects from concept through to field validation, while working cross-functionally with manufacturing, testing, and leadership teams to ensure successful product outcomes. The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise, practical decision-making ability, and proven leadership skills, with a focus on delivering high-quality, reliable agricultural equipment.

Key Responsibilities Engineering Leadership & Team Development Lead and manage a team of engineers, providing mentorship, guidance, and performance feedback Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment that encourages idea sharing and continuous improvement Support team development through coaching, technical guidance, and structured feedback Product Design & Development Oversee and actively participate in the design and development of agricultural equipment products Ensure products meet performance, quality, and regulatory requirements Utilize CAD and related tools to develop 3D models, engineering drawings, and technical specifications Support the development of product and service-related documentation Design Review & Technical Execution Lead design reviews to evaluate concepts, identify risks, and optimize designs for manufacturability, cost, and performance Provide technical guidance to troubleshoot and resolve design-related challenges throughout the product lifecycle Participate in engineering decision-making and ensure alignment with overall product strategy Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with manufacturing teams to ensure successful product execution and manufacturability Coordinate activities between design, testing, and production teams Collaborate with leadership and stakeholders to deliver projects on time and within budget Customer & Field Engagement Engage with customers and field teams to gather feedback and understand product performance and reliability Incorporate customer insights into product design and continuous improvement initiatives Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and advancements in agricultural equipment Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, standards, and methodologies Support innovation initiatives that enhance product performance and customer outcomes Qualifications Undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field 7+ years of relevant engineering experience, preferably within agricultural or heavy equipment industries Demonstrated project leadership experience from concept through execution Strong mechanical aptitude and problem‑solving skills Experience with CAD software and engineering tools Proven ability to lead and mentor technical teams Strong communication, decision‑making, and cross‑functional collaboration skills Summit Search Group is committed to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. We strive for continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias throughout our process. #J-18808-Ljbffr