Engineering Process Director

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

Position Overview:
You will serve as an enterprise Business Process Owner (BPO) for Product Development and Engineering at Polaris, leading the vision, strategy, governance, and execution of core PLM processes across a multi-brand portfolio. In this role, you will own end-to-end product development process architecture, including: product definition, configuration management, and change control / release management. You will work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Digital teams to ensure scalable, standardized, and high-quality processes that drive business performance. You will also lead and develop a team focused on delivering enterprise process excellence and continuous improvement. This role offers the opportunity to directly influence enterprise-wide product development effectiveness, quality, and speed through impactful process ownership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and evolve the enterprise-wide Product Development and Engineering process vision aligned to business strategy and Lean Product and Process Development principles
• Lead end-to-end process architecture across product definition, configuration management, and change control and release management
• Define, govern, and maintain standardized processes, operating cadences, and integration points across engineering disciplines and lifecycle phases
• Establish and lead process governance mechanisms, including change control, deviation management, and continuous improvement cycles
• Define and govern product definition standards, including part, BOM, and document management within PLM systems
• Drive enterprise configuration management practices ensuring consistency, reuse, and accurate product structures across platforms and programs
• Own change control and release management processes, including ECR, ECO, and ECN governance, approvals, and traceability
• Ensure alignment and integration between PLM (PTC Windchill) and ERP systems (SAP) to support accurate data, releases, and downstream execution
• Define and monitor process performance metrics that drive development speed, product quality, and knowledge reuse
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including experimentation, benchmarking, and deployment of AI and automation opportunities
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure successful adoption, alignment, and sustainment of processes
• Develop, coach, and lead a team while building organizational capability in systems thinking and structured problem solving

Desired Competencies:

• Enterprise thinker with strong value-stream orientation
• Influential, credible, and respected across engineering and operations
• Disciplined, systems-oriented, and learning-driven

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field; advanced degree strongly preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in product development and PLM process leadership within complex, multi-product organizations
• Proven experience in product definition (parts, CAD driven, integrated BOMs including  downstream variations, documents), configuration management, and change control /release management
• Demonstrated success as an Engineering Process Owner or equivalent role governing enterprise-scale processes
• Deep working knowledge of Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD) and business process design principles
• Strong experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, including hands-on use of PTC Windchill and integration with SAP ERP
• Proven ability to lead through influence, governance, and expertise rather than direct authority
• Experience identifying, leading, and implementing process improvements, including AI-enabled solutions
• This position is not eligible for sponsorship

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The starting pay range for Minnesota is $152,500 to $200,200 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.  While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range. 

To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing.

We are an ambitious, resourceful, and driven workforce, which empowers us to THINK OUTSIDE.  Apply today!

At Polaris we put our employees first, by offering a holistic approach to their health and financial wellbeing.  Polaris is proud to offer competitive compensation, including a market-leading profit-sharing plan that is fundamental to our pay-for-performance culture. At Polaris, employees are owners of the company through company contributions to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan and discounted employee stock purchases plan. Employees receive a generous matching contribution to 401(k), financial wellness education and consultation to plan for their financial future. In addition to competitive pay, Polaris provides a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, paid time off, gym & personal training reimbursement, life insurance and disability offerings.  Through the Polaris Foundation and our Polaris Gives paid volunteer time off, we support employees who actively volunteer their time, efforts, and passions to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they live, play and work. Employees at Polaris drive our success and are rewarded for their commitment.

About Polaris

As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com

EEO Statement

Polaris Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, or otherwise need assistance or an accommodation in the recruiting process, should contact Human Resources at 800-765-2747 or [email protected].  To read more about employment discrimination protection under U.S. federal law, see: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov).