Product Development Manager – Specialty Vehicles
Compensation: From $70,000 - $80,000 per year Location: Forest Lake, MN (On-site)
Lakeside HR Group has been engaged by our client to recruit for a Product Development Manager – Specialty Vehicles to join their team. Our client is a custom vehicle upfitting organization focused on designing and delivering high-quality truck, van, and fleet solutions that align with OEM standards and customer requirements. This role is responsible for leading the design, validation, and launch of upfit systems that support safe, efficient, and profitable production. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineering leader who can translate customer and fleet needs into build-ready designs while ensuring compliance, manufacturability, and successful production launches.
Key Responsibilities:- Translate customer and fleet requirements into executable upfit designs
- Approve designs, bills of materials (BOMs), labor standards, and installation methods
- Release complete production packages prior to product launch
- Ensure compliance with OEM, NTEA, RVIA, and safety standards
- Oversee CNC and additive manufacturing programming
- Create and maintain documentation for proprietary components
- Support first builds and resolve design or integration issues
- Design for manufacturability, scalability, and margin optimization
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Production, Purchasing, and Quality teams
Required Skills:- Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Design Engineering
- Minimum 5 years of manufacturing engineering experience 5+ years of experience in vehicle upfitting or specialty vehicle manufacturing
- Strong knowledge of OEM chassis, electrical systems, and system integration
- Experience with BOMs, labor standards, and production documentation
- Understanding of RVIA certification requirements
- Experience with CAD/CAM and ERP/MRP systems
- SolidWorks and AutoCAD experience preferred
- Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills
- Ability to work on-site in Forest Lake, MN
Benefits:- Health savings account
- Life insurance 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
About Lakeside HR Group: At Lakeside HR Group, we understand that finding the right job is essential for your career success. We are a boutique-style human resources consulting and recruiting firm dedicated to providing personalized, tailored solutions. When you partner with us, you are not just getting a recruiter; you are getting the entire Lakeside team working together to support your career goals. Partner with us at Lakeside HR Group, where we are more than just a recruiting firm—we are your partners in achieving your career aspirations.
