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Job Description
Job Id:
2026.05PD
# of Openings:
1
Here at Kaas Tailored, we value relationships. Whether it be with our customers, vendors, or employees, we are looking for individuals who can partner with us in our goal to put people first and create quality products. The Product Development Lead is a people-first leadership role as much as it is a program management role. This individual is responsible for building and developing a high-performing product development team, setting a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and lean thinking, while also owning the end-to-end development of new products within Kaas Tailored. This role will partner with our Develop, Integrate, and Build teams to develop products and production standards, release engineering, and ensure products meet customer requirements. They bring the coaching mindset and structured thinking needed to grow their team and move complex programs forward, all in alignment with Kaas Tailored’s purpose statement and beliefs.
Pay Range: $40.00 - $46.50 per hour
Are you innovative, service-oriented, and love to create new things? Is quality a priority to you? Are you always looking for better ways of doing things? Do you find joy in developing others and leading a team? If you said yes to all these questions, we think you might be a good fit as our Product Development Lead at Kaas Tailored.
Here at Kaas Tailored, we value relationships. Whether it be with our customers, vendors, or employees, we are looking for individuals who can partner with us in our goal to put people first and create quality products. The Product Development Lead is a people-first leadership role as much as it is a program management role. This individual is responsible for building and developing a high-performing product development team, setting a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and lean thinking, while also owning the end-to-end development of new products within Kaas Tailored. This role will partner with our Develop, Integrate, and Build teams to develop products and production standards, release engineering, and ensure products meet customer requirements. They bring the coaching mindset and structured thinking needed to grow their team and move complex programs forward, all in alignment with Kaas Tailored’s purpose statement and beliefs.
Essential Functions:
- Responsible for the professional and personal growth of the Product Development team. This includes providing timely and constructive feedback, identifying technical skill gaps and putting development plans in place, conducting regular check-ins, supporting compensation reviews, facilitating Kaizen training and mentorship opportunities, and managing performance matters in partnership with HR and Management.
- Leads new product development from concept through launch, including evaluation, feasibility review, and go/no-go decision-making for new product introductions.
- Owns project and portfolio management for new product development initiatives, including planning, research, prioritization, resource allocation, responsibility assignment, and timeline management across multiple concurrent projects to ensure milestones and deliverables are achieved.
- Directs cross-functional technical development efforts, ensuring design optimization, manufacturability, and resolution of technical or production issues.
- Provides clear project communication and reporting, including regular updates on progress, risks, mitigation plans, and overall project health to internal and external stakeholders.
- Drives problem-solving and continuous improvement, applying lessons learned to improve development processes, increase efficiency, and strengthen product development outcomes.
- Serves as the escalation point for technical, schedule, or cross-functional issues that exceed the team’s authority, driving timely resolution and communicating outcomes to relevant stakeholders.
- Leads manufacturing integration and production readiness, ensuring smooth implementation into manufacturing lines, effective handoff, and proper training/support for the Production team.
- Supports the PD team in system set-up, including engineering documentation, production plans, and related tooling or process configuration required to successfully launch new products into manufacturing.
- Partners cross-functionally with key internal teams (including Account Management, Purchasing, and Materials Management) to ensure alignment on customer needs, sourcing strategy, material availability, cost targets, and overall project execution.
- Champions continuous improvement within the department through active Kaizen participation, kata coaching and support, and fostering a culture of near-term and long-term problem solving. Encourages the team to pursue tomorrow and day-after-tomorrow thinking as a standard part of how work is approached and improved.
- Sets and maintains clear team culture and expectations, modeling Kaas Tailored’s values in day-to-day leadership. Creates an environment where people feel supported, accountable, and motivated to do their best work. Addresses team dynamics and interpersonal issues directly and constructively.
- Ensures 5S compliance and areas are tour-ready at all times.
Qualified applicants have:
- A minimum of 5 years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
- Experience in CAD, CNC, upholstery, and sewing knowledge.
- The desire to serve others and lead with humility.
- The desire to make a positive impact within the organization.
- Experience leading a team.
- Willing and able to work in an open office environment.
- Excellent project management skills.
Company Background:
Kaas Tailored is a growing, world-class manufacturing company located in Mukilteo, WA and for the last 50 years, we have built high-quality furnishings for airplanes, homes, and commercial environments. In an effort to love our employees better, we do things a little differently by training our teams in the use of lean principles and by providing the tools and skills necessary to improve their work and remove burden from processes. We also have the pleasure of sharing these principles and tools with companies from around the world who come to our shop to learn our way of thinking, see our processes, and hear from our great people how small changes can make a big difference in daily work.
Benefits package includes:
Starting wage is $40.00 - $46.50 per hour depending on experience.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Under 12 months: 1 hour PTO for every 30 worked.
After 1 Year: 70 hours PTO
After 3 Years: 110 hours PTO
After 5 Years: 120 hours + 30 hours paid Holiday during Christmas week
Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are paid for 10 hours after 1 month of employment.
Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits: Eligible for coverage on the 1st day of the month following completion of 60 days of employment.
Tuition Assistance: Eligible after 6 months of employment.
401(k): Employer match based on the profitability of the company.
Technology Reimbursement: Eligible after 1 year of employment.
We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce through the application of our affirmative action, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.
Kaas Tailored is a growing, world-class manufacturing company located in Mukilteo, WA and for the last 50 years, we have built high-quality furnishings for airplanes, homes, and commercial environments. In an effort to love our employees better, we do things a little differently by training our teams in the use of lean principles and by providing the tools and skills necessary to improve their work and remove burden from processes. We also have the pleasure of sharing these principles and tools with companies from around the world who come to our shop to learn our way of thinking, see our processes, and hear from our great people how small changes can make a big difference in daily work.
Benefits package includes:
Starting wage is $40.00 - $46.50 per hour depending on experience.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Under 12 months: 1 hour PTO for every 30 worked.
After 1 Year: 70 hours PTO
After 3 Years: 110 hours PTO
After 5 Years: 120 hours + 30 hours paid Holiday during Christmas week
Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are paid for 10 hours after 1 month of employment.
Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits: Eligible for coverage on the 1st day of the month following completion of 60 days of employment.
Tuition Assistance: Eligible after 6 months of employment.
401(k): Employer match based on the profitability of the company.
Technology Reimbursement: Eligible after 1 year of employment.
We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce through the application of our affirmative action, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.
Pay Range: $40.00 - $46.50 per hour
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