Who We Are:

For nearly 100 years, Sperry Rail has been the undisputed global leader in rail flaw detection. Born from the inventive spirit of our founder, Dr. Elmer Sperry, our company continues to be driven by innovation. We design, build, and operate a fleet of state-of-the-art detector cars, deploying advanced ultrasonic and induction technology across the North American rail network and beyond. Headquartered in Shelton, CT, our legacy of excellence is built on a foundation of unmatched expertise and a relentless commitment to quality. We are looking for talented individuals to help write the next chapter of our success story.

The Role:

As our Mechanical Engineering Manager, you will be the champion of engineering excellence and precision. This leadership role is critical for establishing the rigorous standards and best practices that underpin our product's lifecycle. You will mentor a dedicated team of engineers, cultivating an environment where meticulous attention to detail is paramount. Your primary objective is to lead the development of robust, manufacturable, and reliable designs by working collaboratively across the organization, ensuring that quality and efficiency are built-in from the very beginning. A key aspect of this role is to champion the integrity of our design data by overseeing the entire Engineering Documentation Control process and its integration with the company's Sage X3 ERP system..

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead and mentor the design engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, precision, and continuous professional growth.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for the team, providing expert guidance on SolidWorks and best-practice design principles.
• Direct detailed design reviews, providing critical feedback to ensure all designs meet stringent requirements for performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Process Ownership & Data Integrity

• Own the entire Engineering Documentation Control process from development to enforcement. You will establish and manage rigorous standards for part numbering, SolidWorks modeling, technical drawings, and version control.
• Ensure ERP data integrity by overseeing the creation and maintenance of all engineering data in Sage X3, including accurate part masters and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives to refine the design process, enhance product quality, and increase departmental efficiency.

Design Oversight & Collaboration

• Direct the full lifecycle of product design, from initial concept to final production, ensuring all components and systems meet performance, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Enforce a holistic design philosophy by holding the team accountable for Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Inspection (DFI), and Design for Cost (DFC).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Field Operations, R&D, and Supply Chain to ensure upstream design decisions account for downstream assembly, serviceability, and operational challenges.

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Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in mechanical design, with time in management or team leadership role preferred.
• Expert-level proficiency with SolidWorks and PDM systems.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing engineering standards and processes.
• Strong understanding of Engineering Documentation Control principles and best practices.
• Experience with ERP systems (Sage X3 preferred) and managing complex Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of engineering materials, manufacturing techniques and quality control standards.
• Ability to travel up to 10% (domestically and internationally)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in motion control systems development and analysis
• Working knowledge of motors, sensors, vision systems, encoders, linear and rotary motion systems, and fluid controls and design

Why Sperry:

• Competitive salary.
• Generous paid time off.
• Full complement of health and welfare benefits.
• Truly meaningful and engaging work, compelling and intrinsically motivating.
• Immediate contribution to advancing cultural dynamics and infrastructure.
• Collaboration across high-performing teams with interdependent, well-defined achievement goals.
• Opportunity for thought leadership within a highly supportive working environment.

More About Sperry:

Sperry Rail is on a mission-critical journey to revolutionize the Rail Flaw Detection industry. Through the continuous development of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and AI-assisted analysis, we are transforming railway safety worldwide. Our global engineering teams work collaboratively to develop step-change technologies that define Sperry as the unparalleled market leader. For nearly a century, we have repeatedly modernized and improved rail diagnostics through our relentless pursuit of improvement. Determined is an understatement. We are obsessed with advancing science and raising the bar on what’s possible with our ever-improving suite of product and service offerings. Emboldened through the shared values of honesty, accountability, passion, integrity, and teamwork, we are driven by the challenge and bridging concepts with fruition. Each technologist entering Sperry imprints themselves into our brand and further galvanizes a culture of innovation and advancement. Allow us to be clear, Thought Leaders are welcome! We are agile and hungry and invite those with similar passions to join us in challenging the status quo and bringing new ideas to the market. Fast-paced, high-touch with a distinct sense of purpose. We offer more than a job; we offer an opportunity to be part of something different.