R&D Test and Evaluation Manager – Field Test

Industry: Research and Development

Company: Kubota

Job Description

Job purpose

Provide services to the development teams to ensure systems and/or components meet requirements and specifications through field studies. This position will focus on defining the user experience by understanding the customer use case and their stated and unstated requirements. The results will be evaluated to assess the progress of design, performance, and proper application.

Duties and responsibilities

• Ensure field tested systems and components meet product specifications
• Ensure field test code accurately represents the customer usage model
• Perform management duties for the Field Team including staffing, goal planning, performance evaluations, and employee development
• Develop, mentor, and coach existing and new team members in test and evaluation philosophy and methods
• Responsible for collection of customer and field usage data and using this data to create composite test cases
• Responsible for planning and execution of all field activities for all turf products
• Coordination of the management of the field test facilities; duties include financial planning for facility and equipment development and maintenance
• Responsible for documentation of all field test procedures including integration of existing Japan-based field test procedures
• Contribute to the development and management of a reporting system that accurately and clearly depicts the results of field tests to the test requestors
• Check and approve test reports generated by the Field Team staff
• Create and maintain standard operating procedures and equipment for the various field test
• Responsible for ensuring high-quality, timely communication of test requests and results to other company stakeholders (Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, Japanese leadership, etc.)
• Responsible for ensuring strong regular collaboration between TENA teams
• Ensure adherence to all field test safety policies and actively seek to make additions or improvements

• The team member must also be able to work extended and flexible work hours in order to interface with workers on all shifts as well as international business units and must be physically able to travel domestically and internationally(up to 25% of travel)

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field
• Experience and demonstrated success leading technical teams
• Experience and demonstrated success interfacing with external stakeholders, including dealers and customers
• Direct test and evaluation experience including the setup, collection and disassembly of test data and test equipment devices. (DAQ equipment, test sensors, data analysis software)
• Experience and demonstrated success working in a cross-cultural environment
• Computer skills including Windows and Google-based programs
• Knowledge of vehicle systems: structures, hydraulics, electronics, power transmission systems, braking systems, diesel and gasoline engines and related systems
• Organizational and motivational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience working with mixed Japanese and American teams and leadership
• Experience with turf and their respective markets
• Experience with stress/fatigue testing
• Experience with noise and vibration measurement and analysis
• Experience with off-road gasoline engines and related systems
• Knowledge of Japanese language a plus
• Microsoft Project skills a plus

Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Requirements

Team member uses hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms; ascend stairs; balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. It may be necessary to travel between offices in our facilities and it could be in hot, cold, or inclement weather conditions. The team member must occasionally lift up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.

Direct reports

Exempt and non-exempt employees