Lafayette Instrument Company is an equal opportunity employer who values a diverse workforce. Lafayette Instrument Company was voted Lafayette's Small Business of the month in September 2016. If you are interested in working for a small, well established, family-oriented company, please consider one of our available day shift positions.

We promote a drug-free and safe workplace through pre-employment screening. Ideal candidates are highly motivated and productive with strong communication and attention to detail skills. All candidates must have the ability and desire to thrive in a fast moving, team-based environment where there are always new opportunities to keep the work interesting.

Recently Opened Positions

Engineering Manager
Life Science Field Service Specialist

Engineering Manager

Position Summary

As the Engineering Manager, you will report directly to the CEO and be a key member of the leadership team - responsible for overseeing a multidisciplinary engineering team including software, mechanical, and electrical engineers. Your leadership will drive both new product development, as well as maintain existing products already in production. You will work closely with product management, operations, sales and other key stakeholders to deliver innovative, reliable, and high-quality solutions. If you are a passionate engineering leader looking to make a significant impact in scientific community, this job is for you!

The job is based in Lafayette, IN. This is a full-time, exempt position. Days and hours of work are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but is flexible based on need. Travel of 10% to 25% may be required with evening, night, and weekend work as needed.

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Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

New Product Development

• Lead new product development through a structured stage-gate process, ensuring robust design, validation, and launch.
• Oversee the design, development, and integration of software, mechanical, and electrical systems.
• Work with Product Managers and sales teams to develop plans and roadmap for new designs and products
• Manage R&D projects through the stage-gate process while empowering engineers to act as project leads
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.

Sustaining Engineering

• Support the production of existing products, ensuring reliability, manufacturability, and ongoing improvements.
• Implement best practices in engineering development, including Agile methodologies and design for manufacturability.
• Work with operations team to drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Maintain compliance with industry standards, regulations, and safety guidelines.
• Work with Operations team to streamline processes and reduce product complexity, resulting in production cost savings
• Support customer interface opportunities

Engineering Team Management

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary engineering team, including mechanical, electrical and software engineers
• Work with HR to recruit and hire staff as needed
• Supervise staff through goal setting, regular 1-on-1 meetings, and provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for engineering team
• Foster collaboration and innovation amongst the team through regular departmental team meetings and design review meetings to ensure technical accuracy and validity of methods used

Strategic Leadership

• Participate in leadership team and act as a key advisor to CEO for current and future growth plans
• Develop and execute engineering strategies that align with company goals and product roadmaps.
• Make determinations for equipment, staff and training needs and manage engineering budget in line with annual plan
• Ensure effective communication and coordination with other departments and collaborate with external partners, suppliers, and customers as needed

Position Key Performance Indicators

• New product revenue
  • Annual revenue generated for new products vs plan for 24 months post launch
• New product Development timelines
  • Project stages and tasks completed on time
• Time Distribution
  • Man-Hours spent by category (R&D, Manufacturing Support, Other)
• Production cost savings
  • Contribution from engineering changes and component sourcing savings

Qualifications (Knowledge, Experience, and Attributes) Education/Licenses/Certification

A bachelor's degree (or master's degree) in engineering (Electrical or Software) or a related field.

Required Experience & Skills

• Minimum of [5] years of progressive engineering experience (Electrical or Software) within a manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of strong leadership with a proven track record of successfully managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Participate in and support strategic planning and road mapping, while driving innovation to achieve organizational goals.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with product lifecycle management of hardware & software products. Firmware experience a plus
• Familiar with regulatory compliance and quality management systems (ISO, FDA, etc.) preferred
• ERP experience preferred
• Familiarity with embedded systems preferred

Desired Attributes

• Dependable: Our team, and clients, can count on your knowledge and understanding. Comfortable accepting accountability for the performance of subordinates and your performance
• Self-motivated: You see every new task as an opportunity to learn and grow, you work well independently and are a self-starter. Strong work ethic; acts with integrity; Energized by challenges; decisive; outgoing and positive
• Strong communication: Excellent communication skills, as well as experience managing a wide range of relationships with people at all levels within an organization, including global leaders. Can adapt your communication style to your audience, and know how to ask questions and receive feedback
• Organized: Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, coordinate and manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously. Attention to detail and superior ability to organize systems, tools, and timelines
• Positive: You bring energy into the room by being courteous, helpful and by providing excellent support to our clients and team. Entrepreneurial attitude and strong work ethic with the drive to push forward deliverables and engage stakeholders as needed

Life Science Field Service Specialist

Position Summary

The Life Science Field Service Engineer is responsible for providing technical support and expertise to our customers. This includes on-site installation of our instruments at customer labs, troubleshooting equipment issues, assisting with servicing instrumentation remotely and in person, and ensuring optimal performance and functionality for our Life Science products. Collaborating closely with our sales and engineering teams, this role will help to identify customer needs, provide training, and deliver exceptional customer service. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to scientific advancement by ensuring our customers have reliable, cutting-edge tools for their research.

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Position Type

• Based in Lafayette, IN facility accepting Hybrid/Remote applicants
• Full Time, Salaried, Exempt
• Days and hours of work are generally performed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Must be flexible to work outside of normal hours
• Travel up to 100% may be required to customer sites.
• Nights and weekend work when needed

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Remote Field Service

• Provide technical assistance to Life Science customers across a range of products
• Perform remote support appointments via online tools to help solve software/system issues
• Initiate contact and follow-up with customers to resolve problems and answer questions
• Communicate and collaborate with engineering team on product updates/changes/prospective new products
• Escalate and advise on customer requests for replacement or new equipment to sales Team
• Prepare, process, review and monitor various documents
• Provides reports, advisory support and assistance to the department supervisor as needed.

On-Site Field Service

• Installs new equipment at customers facilities
• Performs on-site training on basics of how to use equipment
• On-site troubleshooting and repair of instruments
• Attends trade shows, support existing clients, network, and learn
• Attends seminars, sales meetings or educational activities to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, trends, regulations in the marketplace
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned

Customer Relationship Management

• Act as a point of escalation for clients ensuring best in class service is constantly being delivered
• Work positively with support functions to fully define the processes/procedures/controls relevant to team activities
• Provide support and input to continuous improvement activities within the team
• Liaise and communicate effectively with customers and other departments

Qualifications

Education/Licenses/Certification

• Four (4) year Technical Degree: BME/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering Preferred
• Must maintain a valid driver?s license and the ability to meet company insurance requirements
• Must maintain a valid international passport

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Strong computer skills
• Troubleshooting mindset to help identify the root cause quickly
• Knowledge of basic electronics
• Experience working in a research lab environment
• Experience working in a teaching, consulting or customer support role
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: primarily customer-facing email & phone correspondence
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude for installation and repairing instruments
• Ability to effectively establish rapport, present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers and the public
• Strong attention to details
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage a wide variety of activities at the same time
• Ability to work cross functionally and collaboratively with many stakeholders
• Good understanding of customer requirements and the impact of failure/cost of poor quality
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral or schedule form
• Technical skill to use a variety of software packages and provide customer support

Desired Attributes

• Dependable: our team, and clients, can count on your knowledge and understanding. Comfortable accepting accountability for your performance
• Self-motivated: you see every new task as an opportunity to learn and grow, you work well independently and are a self-starter. Strong work ethic; acts with integrity; Energized by challenges; decisive; outgoing and positive
• Strong communication: Excellent communication skills, as well as experience managing a wide range of relationships with people at all levels within an organization, including global leaders. Can adapt your communication style to your audience, and know how to ask questions and receive feedback
• Organized: Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, coordinate and manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously. Attention to detail and superior ability to organize systems, tools, and timelines
• Positive: you bring energy into the room by being courteous, helpful and by providing excellent support to our clients and team. Entrepreneurial attitude and strong work ethic with the drive to push forward deliverables and engage stakeholders as needed