Principal Engineer - Product Sustainment

Technical Leadership: Provide strategic direction and technical leadership in product cost engineering within the Product Sustainment Engineering team, influencing product competitiveness and profitability across mining equipment product lines.

Product Benchmarking & Competitor Analysis: Lead and execute comprehensive product benchmarking and competitor teardown studies, analyzing materials, manufacturing methods, performance, and cost structures to identify improvement opportunities.

Should Cost Development: Develop detailed should-cost models using aPriori software for mechanical products and assemblies, analyze designs and manufacturing routes to optimize cost structures, and recommend cost reduction initiatives using VAVE methodologies.

Quality & Root Cause Investigation: Apply Lean and Six Sigma principles to lead root cause analysis investigations (8D, Fishbone, 5 Whys) related to product design and manufacturing deviations, supporting quality improvements and manufacturing issue resolution.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement new methodologies, technologies, and processes to enhance product value and engineering efficiency, driving continuous improvement across product sustainment activities.

Business Influence: Provide data-driven recommendations to support product strategy, investment decisions, sourcing strategies, and technology roadmaps, partnering with cross-functional teams.

Daily Role: The successful candidate will manage multiple projects, mentor technical teams, and collaborate with Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Commercial teams to optimize product design and lifecycle support.

Success Metrics: Success will be measured by improved product cost competitiveness, enhanced reliability, effective cost reduction initiatives, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required to support benchmarking, teardown activities, and cross-site collaboration.

Safety First: Demonstrate 100% commitment to our zero harm behaviors in support of our drive towards developing a world-class safety culture.

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Master’s preferred but not mandatory)

Minimum 18 years of experience in Mechanical/Product/Cost Engineering with at least 10 years in product benchmarking, should costing, VAVE, and cost optimization, including 5 years in supervisory or technical leadership roles

Hands-on expertise with aPriori Should Costing software and manufacturing simulations, with strong knowledge of cost estimation methodologies and product cost structures

Deep understanding of manufacturing processes (casting, forging, machining, fabrication, heat treatment, surface treatments, assembly) and mechanical engineering fundamentals including machine design, DFM, DFA, and mechanical systems design

Authored technical papers or recognized by technical bodies or councils

Active membership in industry groups or subject matter expert communities

Strong people leadership, mentoring skills, and visible safety leadership

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities