Lead Platform Manager

About the Engineering Strategy TeamThe Engineering Strategy Team plays a pivotal role within the Product Development & Innovation (PD&I) organization, driving strategic direction and engineering excellence across Fortune Brands Innovations’ global platform. As a globally integrated team—with strong collaboration across regions including a key associate presence in China—we partner closely with engineering, operations, and cross-functional teams to shape the future of product platforms. Our mission is to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and high-quality subsystem and system designs that support business growth and operational efficiency. By leveraging deep technical expertise and strategic insight, we enable smarter decision-making and accelerate product development across the enterprise. ResponsibilitiesPartner with engineering teams to develop system and subsystem designs that meet business growth requirements for cost, quality, and timing (e.g., valves, handle systems, locking mechanisms, etc.).Develop financial and platform metrics for each global platform that drives sound decision-making for Fortune Brands Innovations (FBIN) to maximize success in markets and with efficient operations.Partner with Engineering and Operations teams to develop optimal solutions for manufacturing, cost, quality, complexity, and timing using a deep understanding of platform subsystems and component interactions.Lead and define scope for subsystem improvement projects to enable more efficient product developmentPartner with project team to ensure critical product specifications, subsystem interfaces, and user defined functions (UDF’s) are documented for use in new product development.Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Quality Assurance, Industrial Design, Sourcing and suppliers to tie cross-business activities that affect assigned subsystems.Analyze subsystem usage across FBIN to identify improvement opportunities for cost, quality, timing, and complexity.Support cost, reliability and quality projects within FBIN that improve quality, customer perception, or supply chain issues.Interface with Design to Value (DtV) and Manufacturing Process Development teams to evaluate ideas and drive system level design solutions that optimize both cost and consumer value.Continuously improve the processes, skills, team, and tools necessary to achieve Company’s product leadership strategy.Govern the use of product specifications, subsystem interfaces, and UDF's for use in new product development QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering  is required; advanced degree in Engineering or MBA is preferredEquivalent industry experience of 15 years developing platforms in lieu of degree is acceptedMinimum 5 years of related experience and manufacturing exposure with significant product development to understand the product life cycle from ideation to the final launch.Demonstrated experience influencing, challenging and collaborating with team membersExperience with financial measures and metrics – at project level and P&L level to understand cost savings scenarios. Strong analytic skills with an emphasis on critical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem solving requiredExperience understanding the manufacturing processes such as injection molding, casting, forging, fabricating, etc.; ability to cost components based on manufacturing process (cycle time, fill rate, cooling time), and assess manufacturability (i.e. gate location, tooling material, cooling system design)Demonstrated success managing multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced environmentEffectively work with teams and suppliers from different cultures and countriesDemonstrated mechanical aptitude and problem solvingWorking knowledge of engineering principles - fluid, mechanical, thermal and strength of materials, Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), Design of Experiments (DOE), Quality Function Development (QFD), Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Manufacture Assembly (DFMA)