Engineering Manager (Powertrain Test)

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

Position Overview:

You will lead the Powertrain Test Engineering team supporting Polaris Powertrain Laboratories. In this role, you will be accountable for laboratory system performance, engineering support, resource alignment, technical capability, capital planning, and continuous improvement across multiple lab environments. You will work closely with product engineering, validation, lab operations, facilities, IT, vendors, and external partners to ensure test infrastructure and processes support efficient powertrain development and product delivery. This is a compelling opportunity to influence lab capability, improve testing efficiency, and help shape the systems and investments that support future powertrain development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of test engineers supporting multiple powertrain laboratory functions.
• Own overall performance of powertrain laboratory systems and engineering support across development and validation labs.
• Establish priorities, expectations, accountability, and technical ownership within the test engineering team.
• Drive resolution of complex lab and testing issues by ensuring clear ownership, timely closure, and effective cross-functional alignment.
• Improve lab uptime, test readiness, throughput, data quality, and responsiveness to program needs.
• Plan and allocate engineering resources supporting powertrain lab operations while balancing workload, priorities, and technical support across labs.
• Identify resource, capability, and process gaps and develop mitigation plans to support business priorities.
• Own development and execution of the powertrain lab capital roadmap, including project definition, justification, prioritization, and implementation.
• Lead near-term and long-term lab capability roadmap planning aligned to product development needs, regulatory requirements, and future technologies.
• Partner with lab managers, product development, validation, field performance, facilities, IT, vendors, and external partners to support lab operations and improvements.
• Manage powertrain lab-related budgets, including labor, capital, and expenses.
• Define, track, and improve key lab performance metrics such as utilization, downtime, throughput, and quality.

Desired Competencies:

• Leadership: You inspire, guide, and empower others to achieve their best by setting clear direction, fostering trust, and creating an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and accountable for delivering results.
• Business Acumen: You understand how your work impacts financial performance, operational efficiency, and organizational goals, and you make decisions with the broader business context in mind.
• Technical / Functional Expertise: You apply the required technical or professional knowledge to perform your role effectively and stay current within your area of expertise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in powertrain development, testing, or laboratory engineering.
• Prior leadership experience managing engineering teams is preferred.
• Strong understanding of engine and powertrain systems, testing methodologies, and laboratory environments.
• Experience with dynamometer systems, emissions testing, and test data analysis is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and drive cross-functional outcomes.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across functions.
• Financial and project management experience, including capital planning and budgeting, is preferred.
• Ability to support work in a powertrain development and laboratory environment with regular interaction across test labs, dyno facilities, and engineering teams.
• Occasional off-hours support may be required for critical testing or issue resolution.
• Travel as required, typically less than 10%.
• This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

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The starting pay range for Minnesota is $126,000 to $166,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.  While individual pay could fall