Engineering Design & Development Lead

Company Description

Smiths Interconnect a Molex company, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance interconnect solutions. Our products are used in mission-critical applications across industries such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and industrial markets. At Smiths Interconnect, we are committed to innovation, quality, and providing cutting-edge solutions that connect the world’s most demanding systems.

Job Description

The Engineering function is responsible for delivering innovative solutions in rugged photonics and advanced micro-electronics for commercial, defense and aerospace applications. This team ensures that all engineering activities, from design and development to process optimization, meet business objectives, regulatory standards, and customer expectations.

As Engineering Design & Development Lead, you will drive the execution of product design, technical and sustaining engineering, and end-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) across the full product lifecycle. Partnering with cross-functional leaders, this role drives innovation, operational excellence and profitable growth supporting the efficient use of resources, sustaining NPI performance.

Responsibilities​​​​​​

• Lead, coach and develop a technical and process-oriented team, promoting a safe and healthy work environment, ensuring compliance with company health and safety standards.
• Supports workforce planning, resource allocation, and team development in collaboration with the Engineering Manager and Human Resources.

• Lead technical support activities developing and delivering technical documentation, proposals, and application support to internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintains and strengthens core engineering competencies within the product line, ensuring consistent application of best practices.
• Apply advanced engineering tools and methodologies (e.g. IE 3D printing, FEA, mechanization) to deliver robust and reliable solutions.

• Ensures the accuracy, control and integrity of engineering designs, documentation and associated systems, including ownership of design change management processes and ERP data.

• Monitor and drive execution of NPI activities to meet product requirements, timelines, and quality standards, ensuring alignment with product roadmap and strategy through coordination with Product Line Managers and customers’ feedback.

• Collaborate with Operations and suppliers to improve manufacturing processes.
• Support automation and process improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
• Identify and support value engineering (VAVE) initiatives with a focus on cost optimization and inventory efficiency.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deploy engineering processes and support business objectives.
• Partner with Product Line Managers to ensure alignment between technical solutions and product requirements.
• Collaborate with global engineering and RD&T teams to share best practices and drive continuous improvement.

• Coordinate and support supplier and partnership activities to ensure efficient project delivery.
• Provide technical input with proposals, business cases, and product and technology planning.
• Drive execution of action plans and KPI’s related to quality, cost and delivery.
• Prepare and deliver business and technical briefings to senior management and external stakeholders.
• Analyze and monitor project performance, including activities, budgets, costs, and forecast to determine progress against objectives and team performance.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in engineering. Required.
Master's degree in science or engineering. Preferred.

Ability to travel domestically and internationally (approximately 35%) to support business needs.
9 or more years of experience or significant experience leading a team of highly technical employees.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrate strong technical knowledge across product and manufacturing domains, including 3D modeling, FEA (mechanical, electrical, thermal).
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to drive continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
• Maintain knowledge of regional specifications, standards, and certification requirements.
• Support innovation processes, including invention disclosures and intellectual property activities.

Compliance & Regulatory Awareness

• Demonstrate understanding of export control regulations, fair trade practices and anti-bribery/corruption laws.
• Ensure alignment with evolving business requirements, regulatory standards and compliance frameworks.
• Analyze and interpret technical documentation, business reports and regulatory requirements to support informed decision-making.

Business & Analytical Skills

• Apply data-driven and metric-oriented approaches to monitor performance and support decision-making.
• Utilize structured decision-making framework (e.g., Principle-Based Management) to drive consistent and effective outcomes.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

Leadership & Professional Competencies

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with the ability to present complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrate strong leadership behaviors, including ownership, accountability, and decisive decision-making.
• Support team development through coaching, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build credibility as a technical leader and maintain strong cross-functional collaboration.

Additional Information

Controlled Goods and Technology

A part of this position, you will be required to examine, handle, or transfer highly confidential equipment and technologies, including technical data or any technical assistance (such as instructions, training, etc.) classified as controlled goods. These goods have military or strategic significant, are critical to national security, and are strictly regulated under the Defence Production Act (DPA), and the Controlled Goods Regulations (CGR), as part of Canada’s Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

As a condition of an offer of employment, you must agree to undergo a security assessment conducted by Smiths Interconnect Canada, A Molex Company, designated official, in compliance with the CGP and DPA requirements. This screening includes the verification of proof of citizenship or permanent resident status, a criminal record and other security checks. The disclosure of controlled goods to unauthorized persons is a criminal offense under Canadian law, therefor, you will be required to strictly comply with all Canadian laws that apply to controlled goods.

Impact: Planning and Decision Making

• Decisions have a serious impact on the overall success or failure of the product, of accountability.
• Molex Decision Making Framework, and Principle Based Management are the paradigms under which the candidate shall arbitrate and propel projects.
• Erroneous decisions or recommendations may cause critical delays or modifications to company projects or operations, causing substantial expenditure of time, resources, and funds.
• The ability to make effective, timely decisions in a complex environment, by sourcing and analyzing critical information.
• A natural tendency to be adaptable and flexible to align with disciplined strategic evolution.

Scope, Complexity and Impact

• Establishes policies appropriate for the function.
• Interprets and recommends modifications to company-wide policies and practices.
• Delegates and oversees authority for new and existing designs.
• Maintains knowledge of all designs and is able to challenge and assist subject matter experts to overcome challenges.
• Collaborates across multiple sites and geographies.

Liaisons

• Engineering Manager for alignment on engineering priorities, technical execution, and team direction.
• Product Line Management for alignment of product requirements, specifications and technical solutions.
• Operations/Manufacturing for coordination of designs for manufacturability, process integration and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Quality team for collaboration on compliance, validation, and quality standards.
• Supply Chain/Procurement, engaging in supplier selection, technical requirements and performance improvement.
• Test Engineering for coordination of validation, testing strategies, and product qualifications.
• NPI/Project Management for alignment on project timelines, deliverables, and successful product launches.

Health, Safety and Environment Requirements

• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time; a minimum of 2 hours at a time.
• Must be able to move throughout office and manufacturing environments.
• Must be able to lift up and carry up to 10 pounds, in accordance with lifting guidelines.
• Must be able to bend, reach, kneel, twist, and grip items while working at assigned desk area.
• Must have manual dexterity and coordination to operate office and technical equipment
• Must be able to simultaneously manage several objectives and reassign priorities.
• Must be able to tolerate changing priorities, and complete assignments despite frequent interruptions.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand French and English.
• Must be able to respond to visual and auditory cues, with specific visual requirements including close vision, peripheral vision, color recognition and focus adjustment
• Complete all work in a safe manner and follow all safety requirements consistent with supporting the Company’s goals.
• Follow all environmental requirements consistently with supporting the company’s environmental performance goals.
• Complete, and actively participate in all other EHS training requirements.

Work is performed primarily in office and manufacturing environment, with occasional presence at customer sites.

Work environment is typically considered within a Molex location during normal or extended business hours to include offices, manufacturing plants and repair facilities. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud, and approved PPE is required when on the factory floor.

Why Smiths Interconnect, a Molex company?

Global Impact: Be part of Molex, a global engineering leader, you'll work on breakthrough technologies that make a difference in the industries that shape the future.

Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career progression within Smiths Interconnect and across the broader Molex organization.

Innovative culture: Join a collaborative and innovative team, where your ideas and contributions are valued and rewarded.

Competitive Package: We offer a competitive salary, benefits package and performance incentives.

Location: Kirkland is a thriving business hub on Montréal’s West Island, offering easy access to major highways, the international airport, and downtown. It’s an ideal location for professionals, combining strong industry presence with a high quality of life.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Interconnect a Molex company, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Job Search | Koch)

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)