R&D Product Development Leader - Deckorators

R&D Product Development Leader - Deckorators

Deckorators, a brand of UFP Industries, is a leader in composite decking, railing, and outdoor living products. We are experiencing rapid growth, and our product development team plays a critical role in what comes next.

The R&D Product Development Leader is a key position responsible for bringing new product families to life and expanding applications for existing products. This is an excellent opportunity for a curious, driven self-starter who enjoys solving problems, moving ideas forward, and delivering real results.

The successful candidate may office from one of our current Deckorators locations in Selma, AL or Prairie du Chien, WI, with travel expected up to 25-50% depending on project needs.

Job Summary

The R&D Product Development Leader is responsible for developing new products that meet customer performance requirements and support the continued growth of the Deckorators portfolio. This role drives product development projects from concept through implementation, partnering across R&D, operations, quality, and commercial teams to turn ideas into scalable products.

This position is a strong fit for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of technology, manufacturing, and market need - someone who can ask smart questions, test ideas quickly, and help bring innovation to market in a practical, results-focused way.

What You'll Do

• Research and develop new technologies that create meaningful product advantages in the market

• Develop technical and product hypotheses and lead them through evaluation and progression

• Build sound product proposals based on market needs, technical feasibility, and business economics

• Identify and qualify technical approaches to deliver products that meet customer performance requirements

• Develop prototypes and work cross-functionally to scale successful concepts into production

• Lead experimentation at the appropriate level, including lab-scale, pilot, production, and field testing

• Collect, interpret, and communicate technical data clearly and effectively

• Troubleshoot gaps in product performance and help develop solutions for future improvements

• Partner with teams across the business to ensure products meet the right specifications, cost targets, and performance goals

• Maintain awareness of competitive building product offerings and identify opportunities for new product development

• Support intellectual property efforts, including patent review, invention identification, and related documentation

• Help manage development timelines and project progression through a stage-gate or similar process

• Prepare technical reports, updates, and presentations as needed

• Perform other duties as assigned

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field required; advanced degree preferred

• Particularly relevant backgrounds include Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science

• 5-10 years of experience in R&D and/or new product development

• Strong preference for experience in plastics materials, polymer processing, or related manufacturing environments

• Proven ability to champion new product or technology projects from concept to implementation

• Experience with product testing methods and technical problem-solving

• Knowledge of building products, construction applications, or adjacent product categories is a plus

• Experience with intellectual property processes, including patent evaluation or invention documentation, is preferred

• Familiarity with stage-gate or other structured new product development processes

• Strong technical foundation with the ability to apply engineering thinking in a practical R&D environment

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook

Skills & Style That Matter Here

• Naturally curious and energized by solving real problems

• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and moving projects forward in a fast-paced environment

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Able to work well with all levels of the organization, from plant teams to senior leadership

• Organized, detail-oriented, and process-minded without getting stuck in unnecessary complexity

• Self-directed and comfortable working with a high degree of ownership

• Collaborative and team-oriented

• Willing and able to travel based on project and site needs

Why Deckorators

This is not a maintenance-mode product role. We're growing, evolving, and investing in what comes next. The person in this role will have real visibility and impact - helping define future product families, improve existing applications, and partner closely with teams across the business to bring great ideas to life.

If you're someone who likes building, testing, solving, and seeing your work turn into real products in the market, this could be a very strong fit.