Sr. Manager of Engineering

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, MLI is a recognized leader in the design and manufacturing of innovative filtration solutions. We specialize in standard and custom systems for water and liquid applications across diverse global markets—including HVAC, industrial process, agriculture, marine, and wastewater. With over 30 years of expertise, we combine a rich manufacturing history with a forward‑looking, entrepreneurial culture.

We are dedicated to solving complex technical challenges with agility and precision. Guided by our vision to lead through innovation, we are committed to our core mission:
Quality Products. Customer Focused. Results Driven.

We are seeking a strategic Sr. Manager of Engineering to define and execute a robust R&D roadmap that scales with our aggressive growth targets. This is a "working leader" role for a forward‑thinker who is not afraid to get hands‑on to solve immediate challenges while simultaneously building the framework for future innovation. You will bridge the gap between theoretical product development (Fluid Dynamics and Automation), Mechanical and Electrical Engineering standards, and manufacturing execution (Solid Works/ERP integration).

The ideal candidate will drive the strategic direction of our intellectual property and product lifecycle, transforming our engineering department into a performance‑based culture. You will empower the team to deliver products that exceed customer expectations today while building the engineering capabilities required for tomorrow.

• Roadmap: Develop and own a multi‑year R&D roadmap that aligns technical capabilities with commercial business goals and market trends.
• Continuous Improvement: Champion a culture of continuous innovation by identifying emerging technologies.
• Fluid Dynamics Expertise: Serve as the company’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) on fluid flow, pressure drop, and hydraulic performance. Lead the design of new product offerings from ideation to commercialization.
• Electro‑Mechanical Integration: Lead the development of "smart" products by integrating mechanical hardware with electrical systems. Define and develop the automation logic (PLC/Controls) required to drive product functionality and manufacturing automation.
• New Product Introduction (NPI): Manage the entire product lifecycle. Ensure all new designs are validated for performance, cost‑efficiency, and manufacturability before they reach the shop floor.
• Testing & Validation: Oversee prototype testing and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis to verify product integrity.

• Infrastructure: Establish a robust framework for capturing, evaluating, and protecting company Intellectual Property, including filing patents for novel designs and safeguarding trade secrets.
• SWOT Analysis: Conduct regular competitive landscape analyses to ensure our technology stack avoids infringement while maintaining a defensible market advantage.
• IP Defense: Collaborate with legal counsel and executive leadership to monetize or defend IP assets when necessary.

• Tech Tool Ownership: Drive the continuous improvement of the engineering technology stack, specifically optimizing Solid Works, PDM, and simulation tools to reduce design cycles and errors.
• Integration Leadership: Lead the strategic integration of engineering data with enterprise systems (ERP), ensuring a "single source of truth" for Bills of Materials (BOMs) and part metadata.
• Strategic Tech Growth: Evaluate and implement next‑generation design automation tools to streamline standard product configurability (laser welding, multi‑axis robotics, etc.).
• Data Integrity: Ensure that the Engineering Bill of Materials (eBOM) translates 100% accurately to the Manufacturing Bill of Materials (mBOM), eliminating manual entry errors and production delays.
• Standardization: Enforce strict CAD modeling standards, revision controls, and part‑numbering conventions.

• Ops
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Partner with Operations…