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Engineering Project Manager II

Generac · Sussex, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a new product development project you managed from concept to launch. What was your role and what was the outcome?

What they are checking: whether the candidate has genuinely run a full product development lifecycle, not just a piece of one

Tell me about a time a cross-functional team member wasn't delivering what the project needed and they didn't report to you. What did you do?

What they are checking: ability to influence without formal authority, which the posting flags as essential

Tell me about a project that failed to hit schedule, cost, or scope. What went wrong and what did you change afterward?

What they are checking: honesty about failure and whether they actually convert lessons learned into process change

How do you keep six or eight simultaneous projects moving without letting the squeaky wheel get all your attention?

What they are checking: capacity to manage a real portfolio, not just one project at a time

Tell me about a lessons-learned session you ran after a project closed. What actually changed on the next project because of it?

What they are checking: whether lessons learned are a real practice or just a ritual slide in a closeout deck

What would you do

Tell me about a project where cost targets and quality requirements were in direct conflict. How did you resolve it?

What they are checking: judgment on trade-offs between product cost, customer lifecycle cost, and quality commitments

A key supplier just told you a critical component will be delayed by ten weeks, three months before launch. What do you do in the first week?

What they are checking: risk and contingency planning skills under real schedule pressure

If engineering wants more time to validate a design and manufacturing is pushing to hold the launch date, how do you work through that?

What they are checking: conflict resolution between functions with competing incentives

About the work

How would you structure a project schedule for a new powered product launch that involves engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and marketing all hitting milestones at different times?

What they are checking: real command of cross-functional scheduling and dependency management, not just familiarity with a Gantt chart tool

Describe a stage-gate or milestone-based development process you've used, like Generac's GDP. How did you use design reviews to actually change the direction of a project rather than just check a box?

What they are checking: whether they use gate reviews as real decision points or treat them as paperwork

How do you decide when a make-versus-buy decision needs escalation versus when you can make the call yourself?

What they are checking: understanding of decision authority and business judgment on sourcing decisions

Describe how you've translated a vague customer or product management requirement into concrete engineering and manufacturing specs.

What they are checking: ability to bridge product requirements and design realization, a core duty in the posting

What manufacturing or supply chain issues have you seen derail a product launch for industrial or commercial equipment, and how did you catch it early?

What they are checking: depth of experience specifically with equipment/machinery manufacturing, as the role requires

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Engineering Project Manager II is responsible for planning and executing all product development activities including new product introductions, cost reduction, technology integration, and lifecycle product support. The position requires strong technical and cross-functional product development and business process knowledge, superior people leadership skills, functional and project management experience, proficiency in quality systems, and business planning knowledge. This position works closely with the product business groups and other functional leaders in the company (product management, engineering, service, manufacturing operations, supply chain, marketing, quality, IT, finance) and is responsible for providing leadership and management for projects supporting a Generac business area / product line. This leadership role is responsible for planning and executing product development project plans which ensure superior products for Customers. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Marketing, or other technical discipline OR equivalent work experience • 7 years of progressive work experience in engineering, brand/product management of equipment, machinery, or other powered products • 5 years of project management experience in manufacturing of industrial/commercial equipment, machinery, or other powered products Preferred Qualifications: • Demonstrated Project Management experience with cross-functional teams which includes 'full system' product releases Essential Duties: • Provide project management leadership to teams for new product development projects including: creating schedules, building product development plans, integrating the activities of cross-functional team members • Implement product requirements into project scope, design and product realization requirements • Lead key project execution, in primary collaboration with engineering and product management for new product development or similar product initiatives • Execute projects to schedule, project cost, scope and quality commitments • Achieve target product cost for Generac and product life cycle cost for Customers • Effectively execute and provide suggestions for improvement the product development process. Utilize the Generac Development Process (GDP) Milestones and Design Reviews as key drivers of product development progression. • Define and drive Risk and Mitigation plans for projects. Define and lead contingency option assessments when needed, then select and execute mitigation plans • Facilitate collaboration between departments to identify and harvest new product development concepts, technologies, techniques, standards and procedures. • Manage attributes and decisions such as make vs. buy, shipping and logistics cost, bidding process • Identify, evaluate and document “lessons-learned” during the project and communicate best practices and lessons learned to project team members on future projects • Other Duties as assigned and the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: • Advanced level ability to deliver results while working simultaneously on multiple projects; balancing resources, timing and quality of outcomes • Advanced level ability to lead the transformation from product requirements into a product design and realization plan to meet or exceed the product and business goals • Demonstrated ability to influence people and teams who are not all direct reports • Advanced team building and leadership skills • Strong understanding of engineering technical issues/needs, manufacturing, supply chain, service, customer service, financial, sales, and marketing as related to product design and development • Advanced communication skills • Self-driven, highly motivated, flexible and high capacity to learn Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting; close vision and ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel. #LI-KA1 “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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