Mgr, Engineering, Firmware

OVERALL MISSION / PURPOSE

Lead and manage team of design engineers in designing, developing and completing high power supply units based on customer requirements, international safety standards and compliance to the company's standards on cost, quality and manufacturability as well as ensuring smooth transition of products to the factory for mass production.  Oversee multiple projects simultaneously by giving direction and leading product design and research resulting in high quality and innovation.  Responsible for the technical and professional growth of the team/subordinates.

KEY RESULTS AREAS / DUTIES,  RESPONSIBILITIES & TIME SPENT ON THE DUTY

1. Lead the product firmware design development

- Lead and accountable for the whole product development cycle in the design team to develop a product which is optimized for quality, cost and schedule

- Meet or exceed customer expectation on time and cost and balancing these with the company's internal requirements for manufacturability, quality and reliability

- Ensure that product design/development process is compliant with internal standards/procedures

- Review customer specs and requirements

- Plan the development schedule and commit a milestone schedule to Project Management (PM)

- Determine the firmware design concept, approach and topology the with team.  Assess resource requirements and capabilities to achieve completion date and product specs within target costs and standards

- Agree on a target schedule and secure help from support teams

- Schedule and lead regular conference meetings with customers to discuss/clarify requirements and issues arising during development

- Monitor and review program status throughout the development cycle, including cost, schedule, technical parameters in firmware, electrical, mechanical, thermal, magnetics, PCB design, Electro Magnetic Compliance (EMC), materials, quality, reliability, safety and manufacturability aspects

- Lead in problem solving sessions in case a problem arises. Decide on solutions to minimize possible impact of problem

- Lead the team to accomplish and update necessary records and documents

2. Lead technical support for sustaining models 

- Provide advice on design related problems in production line or field problems 

- Review and respond to customer change request. Assign engineers to work on the change whenever appropriate

- Provide comments on the problems as well as assistance in conducting field return failure analysis

- Review the Factory's claimed issues and assign engineers to work with Factory QA or PSG whenever appropriate

- Give technical support in handling obsolete components or alternate source approval

3. Manage the design team 

- Review and enhance individual and team performance so as to promote teamwork, professionalism and discipline in the team 

- Provide general rules and directions to the team

- Review and plan for the resource of forthcoming projects, e.g. tools, equipment, etc.

- Organize and assign roles and responsibilities based on expertise and workload

- Review performance of the team and individuals.  Carry out annual performance appraisal

- Provide growth and training opportunities to team members to equip them with competencies to perform jobs effectively

4. Provide Request for Quotation (RFQ) and Request for Information (RFI) to Marketing and customer 

- Provide technical advice and information to customer or marketing for RFI cases 

- Review customer's information and specifications

- Communicate with Sales and customers on any technical issues/question

- Lay-out the concept, design approach and topology for the RFQ

- Guide responsible engineers to work on cost breakdown and the electrical / mechanical / packaging approach

- Lead in drafting the technical proposal and work with Technical Costing to finalize cost for the proposal

- Estimate development schedule and send to Marketing

- Send final technical proposal to Sales and Marketing

5. Advise on general technical inquiries, general procedures and practices in product design 

- Work with superior or subject experts in specific technical topics. General procedures and practices in product design.

- Review and provide comment on draft procedures and policies

- Review and advise on changes in related design documents

- Discuss with Subject Matter Experts to discuss technical issues and general procedures

JOB SPECIFICATION / COMPETENCY REQUIRED

1. Knowledge 

- Electrical principles

- Mechanical Design concepts

- Topologies of Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) design

- Manufacturing process 

- General Quality requirements 

2. Skills

- Communication - Oral & Written 

- Computer / CAD tools literacy

- Planning & organizing skills

- Team building skills 

- Leadership & interpersonal skills 

3. Abilities & Behavior

- Initiative 

- Flexibility 

- Drive & will to succeed

- Continuous improvement

- Forward thinking