Manager Of Research & Development

Position Title: Manager of Research & Development

Palomar Products

Founded in 1970 and located in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Palomar Products is a global leader in highly reliable secure intercommunication systems for airborne and naval military applications. This includes switching and crew-position units for airborne, shipboard, unmanned, and ground applications for multi-mission platforms. Our systems operate in over 250 unique aircrafts and 9 classes of naval warships around the globe.

Job Summary

The Manager of Research and Development (R&D) plays a critical role in driving innovation, fostering growth, and maintaining competitiveness in our dynamic business environment. By providing strategic leadership, technical expertise, and effective management, the Manager of R&D will help Palomar stay at the forefront of technology and deliver value to our customers.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and managing all research and development activities for the company. This includes the creation, development, and enhancement of existing and new products, processes and technologies to drive innovation and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The role requires a combination of technical expertise, engineering knowledge and experience, strategic vision, as well as leadership skills to effectively execute R&D initiatives to support Palomar's goals and objectives relative to the development of our Secure Inter Communication Systems, integrated and deployed on various military platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technology Development: Drive the development of new products, processes, and technologies through research, experimentation, and prototyping. The Manager of R&D leads new product development as the system architect and leverage technical expertise and industry knowledge to push the boundaries of innovation and deliver cutting-edge solutions.

• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement product road map and R&D strategies aligned with Palomar's overall objectives and long-term vision. Identify emerging technologies, trends, and market opportunities to inform strategic decision-making.

• Team Leadership: Provide strong leadership to the R&D team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Recruit, develop, and mentor top talent, ensuring the team is equipped with the necessary skills and resources to succeed.

• Project Management: Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of R&D projects within scope, budget, and timeline constraints. Coordinate cross-functional teams and resources to drive project success and achieve key milestones supporting Palomar's annual plan.

• Quality Assurance: Establish and maintain rigorous quality standards for R&D outputs, ensuring that products and technologies meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations. Implement aerospace and defense best practices for design and development, testing, validation, and risk management throughout the development lifecycle.

• Intellectual Property Management: Protect and manage the company's intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Develop strategies to maximize the value of intellectual assets and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

• Budgeting and Resource Allocation: Develop and manage the R&D budget, allocating resources effectively to prioritize projects and initiatives based on strategic importance and potential ROI. Monitor expenditures and performance metrics to ensure optimal use of resources.

• Compliance and Ethics: Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing R&D activities. Promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct throughout the organization.

Essential Skills and Required Experience:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with strong written and verbal communication with the ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize, plan and execute multiple projects simultaneously.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze complex problems, identify opportunities and develop actionable solutions.

• Experience in military avionics systems development, bid management, and customer support.

• Experience with DO-178 and DO-254 development as well as DO-160 and MIL-STD-810 Qualification Testing.

• Strong technical expertise and knowledge in hardware, software, firmware development and design of avionics subsystems.

• Highly independent, works with minimal supervision, able to establish work prioritization and arranges own activities in accomplishing objectives. Reviews the team's work to ensure the objectives have been met.

Education and/or Work Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in an Engineering discipline (or the equivalent combination of education and experience) Requires 10+ years of engineering development experience as a Senior engineering level. Proven track record of leadership and success in an R&D project developed for the aerospace and defense industry or another regulated industry.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute R&D strategies driving innovation and business growth.

• Experience with mentoring less experienced engineers providing continuous improvement of their skillset and establishing standard work practices for R&D projects.

• Experience developing system architecture, system design and integration

Salary Range: $160,000-$200,000

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

This position requires either a US Person (as defined in applicable export regulations) or a non-US person who is eligible to obtain required export authorization