Senior PLM Process Adoption Lead

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The Senior PLM Process Adoption Lead at Generac is instrumental in driving engineering productivity and effectiveness through the ongoing assessment and enhancement of CAD/PLM systems company-wide. This role is dedicated to optimizing CAD/PLM tools to streamline engineering design, analysis, product development, and product maintenance processes. The Senior PLM Process Adoption Lead identifies opportunities for improving CAD/PLM systems and processes, develops strategic plans to meet current and future system requirements, manages software upgrades, and provides guidance on necessary computer training. This position also plays a key role in delivering training on current CAD/PLM systems. This position is responsible for architecting systems, developing systems, mentoring staff and providing training with respect to various current CAD/PLM systems.
The role reports to the Director of Global Engineering Systems.

Additional Information:

A large-scale PLM initiative is just getting underway at Generac, a rapidly growing company.  We have implemented PTC Windchill and Process Standardization at 3 of the 6 divisions and have a plan to do the same at all divisions over the next several years.  At the same time, we will also be expanding product development capabilities to generate enormous efficiency opportunities wherever Generac product is being worked on.  So, this is an exciting opportunity for you to leverage your knowledge to make a very large impact and to implement PLM on a large global scale at dozens of sites.  If you have been a PLM person, this could be your dream job.  Please consider joining this growing team at this top company.  If you are a PLM expert and love helping other PLM users to get the most out of their use of the PLM processes, please apply for this role.  If you are driven and love making a difference, we could be a great fit for you.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Analyze engineering system information requirements and product specifications to understand technical content strategy and plan to create and deliver written and/or visual product-related information including various types of guides (automated templates and best practices), and online information (interactive demos, help systems) integrated into product, for a variety of audiences (general engineering users, systems administrators, and engineering training developers).

• Responsible for implementing and supporting the internal tools and systems environment that supports a forward-thinking product development group using PDM/PLM and other software tools for CAD data and engineering documentation management. 

• Work closely with engineering teams to implement customized CAD/PLM workflows to support engineering data management solutions and process improvements. 

• Implements system upgrades and coordinates training programs and responsible for the development of technical documentation relative to new engineering systems and tools.

• Develop practices and processes aligned to enhancing the performance and efficiencies of the Engineering Systems tools

• Adhere to and help improve support related procedures

• Work as part of a team to share skill sets, lessons and technical knowledge to maintain a well-rounded technical support team.

• Contribute to technical support documentation

• Subject matter expert in the tools used by our Engineering community

• Monitor competitive environment and be prepared to respond to changes in the market

• Logically and efficiently analyze, test and diagnose CAD systems to isolate problems and report if necessary.

• Serve as the Business Lead and focal point representing the business in the deployment of PLM.

• Participate in Process Workstreams to ensure business requirements are addressed and included in plans.

• Develop new techniques, practices and processes utilizing new and existing technologies to enhance organizational performance.

• Participate in the transfer and optimization of systems and ideas across one or more business groups.

• Designs, validates, trains and brings new processes and technologies to production.

• Specifies precise new product development systems functional requirements; designs, tests and integrates the most complex components to produce final designs; and evaluates the design's overall effectiveness, cost (including cost/benefit analysis), reliability (risk analysis), and benefits to productivity gains.

• Collaborates with internal engineering systems team members, manufacturing partners, contract manufacturers, designers and product specialists to optimize the most unique and complex systems designs and technologies.

• Drives substantial process improvements and efficiencies to allow for growth as a direct result of their activities.

• Acts as a resource to mentor and teach less experienced engineering systems team members.

• Travel to other Generac facilities as necessary.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Moderate travel up to 10% travel and valid Driver’s License required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Computer Science or Information Systems with 10 years of experience in a similar role -OR- 15 years of experience in a similar role.

• Strong experience with Engineering Systems Administration on PTC Windchill

• Strong experience with capturing Business Requirements related to CAD/PLM

• Strong experience with global product releases throughout the entire product life cycle desired;

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results while working on multiple global projects simultaneously, balancing resources, timing and quality of outcomes

• Strong experience delivering technical training and presentations.

• Strong experience working with and influencing cross-functional teams.

• Previous experience using Windchill, Oracle PLM, Team Center, Enovia, or equivalent PLM systems and CAD such as Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred minimum 10 years’ experience with PLM systems; with preferably 5+ years’ experience as PTC Windchill Solution Architect.

• Excellent verbal and written skills.

• Ability to perform detail-oriented work with a high degree of accuracy on multiple, complex projects.

• Broad systems design experience with a variety of applications (ie PLM, MBD, mCAD, eCAD, SW/FW, Simulations, Lab data acquisition software, ERP) and basic knowledge of systems architecture.

• Working Knowledge of several of the following: PTC Options and Variants, MPM-Link, ThingWorx, SUMA, Middleware development, Creo, other PTC products, and other Product Development solutions

• In-depth experience and process knowledge in new product design and development.

• Ability to conduct complex analysis of processes and systems integrations such as NPD, ECN, MCN, and PLM to ERP, eCommerce, etc.

• Ability to translate technical information to all audiences.

• Applies systems engineering knowledge and experience to improve product development, collaboration and processes.

• Well-developed technical skills to include multiple implementations of product development tools such as PLM, MBD, CAD, Simulation.

• Experience with practical product/machine design.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Extensive administrative knowledge of Windchill, Creo, and related tools.

• Knowledge of SAP and/or other ERP solutions.

• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering processes related to data management.

• Ability to capture business needs and transform them into business requirements

• Strong organizational, written, oral and professional skills.

• Extensive experience in multiple programming languages such as Java, XML,VBA, WinSCP, SQL Developer.

• High level of business acumen.

• Solves unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on the business.

• Strong decision-making skills.

• Contributes to the development of functional strategy.

• May lead cross-functional systems development teams to achieve milestones and objectives.

• Coaches and mentors less-experienced engineers.

• Take ownership of systems design and functions.

• Authors system changes, standards and procedures.

• Generates learning tools for others.

• Excellent conceptualization, visualization, and creativity.

• Excellent time management, prioritization, and analytical problem solving.

• Proficient in defining, deploying and managing workflows within Windchill

• Proficient with delivering technical training and presentations on a global basis

• Ability to influence others without direct authority and work effectively with all levels of the organization

• Proven track record of successfully managing shifting deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls.  The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.  On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders.  The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel.