Access Product Engineering Manager - San Antonio, Texas

Work on the 1-million sq. ft. factory is now under way on the 400-acre site. It will be the company’s second largest plant, rivalled only by JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, England, and create 1,500 new jobs over five years. The factory will make Loadall telescopic handlers and aerial access equipment, with production scheduled to start in 2026. The factory will also have the capacity to expand and build other products in the future.

Company Profile
80 years and countless innovations later, JCB is the world’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment. At 23 plants spanning four continents—and countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India and Brazil—JCB manufactures a range of more than 300 products including telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, excavators, wheel loaders, compact excavators, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, Access aerial work platforms, rough terrain forklifts, and tractors.

JCB people are at the heart of our business and as a family-owned business we answer to our customers, not a group of shareholders. That freedom allows us to concentrate on developing the latest technologies and incorporating them into our equipment. We focus on what our customer needs on the jobsite – a machine that holds up in the toughest environment and increases their productivity.

At JCB, we stand behind our products – and our name.

Position Purpose
The Current Product Engineering Manager for JCB Access will lead the global current product engineering function for the Access business, with a strong focus on delivering product robustness, quality improvement, cost reduction, and manufacturing process optimisation.
The role will initially be based at the JCB Jaipur plant to support current production and engineering activities, with regular visits to the JCB UK headquarters for alignment and stakeholder engagement. By Q2 2027, the role will transition permanently to the new JCB San Antonio plant, where the manager will lead and grow the Current Product Engineering (CPE) team for JCB Access in North America.

A strong background in Aerial Work Platform (AWP) design is essential.

Position Type
Full Time, Exempt

Major Tasks, Responsibilities & Key Accountabilities
Current Product Leadership
◦ Lead the Current Product Engineering (CPE) team for the JCB Access product line once established in San Antonio.
◦ Drive engineering ownership of existing AWP products, ensuring ongoing product improvement, robustness, and customer satisfaction.
◦ Prioritise and execute engineering tasks related to product updates, reliability issues, warranty reduction, and design improvements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
◦ Work closely with the NPIP (New Product Introduction Process) Engineering Manager to ensure product consistency, shared architecture, and synergy between new-generation and current machines.
◦ Collaborate with Service and Quality departments to proactively resolve field issues, drive root-cause investigations, and implement corrective actions.
◦ Partner with Operations teams to optimise manufacturing processes, enhance build quality, reduce cost, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
◦ Work with San Antonio Purchasing and Manufacturing teams on product transition, localisation, and supplier development.
Product Localisation & Transition (San Antonio)
◦ Support engineering readiness for the setup of the JCB Access production line at the San Antonio plant.
◦ Lead engineering support for BOM transition, localisation efforts, VA/VE activities, and manufacturing integration.
◦ Align product specifications, design changes, and validation plans needed for US based manufacturing.
Technical Expertise
◦ Provide deep technical expertise in Aerial Work Platform design, including structural, hydraulic, electrical, control, and safety systems.
◦ Support design updates that meet North American regulatory requirements (e.g., ANSI A92).
◦ Ensure all engineering activities comply with JCB standards, safety requirements, and global product strategies.
Leadership & Team Development
• Build, mentor, and grow the Current Product Engineering team at JCB San Antonio.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence.
• Ensure seamless communication and integration across global JCB Access engineering teams (UK, India, and USA).

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline.
• Extensive experience in Aerial Work Platform (AWP) design.
• 10+ years of engineering experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong background in product lifecycle engineering, sustaining eng