Dynamic Engineering Manager with a builder's mindset — skilled in leading teams, bridging technical depth with product strategy, and delivering scalable solutions that drive business growth. Experienced in cross-departmental collaboration, SolidWorks, data analysis, and automation.
I'm an engineer who thinks like a product manager. My career has been defined by connecting technical capabilities to real business outcomes — whether optimizing manufacturing workflows, building data tools, or leading teams through complex, high-stakes deliverables.
I take a customer-centric approach to everything I do, believing that the best technical solutions are the ones that solve real problems for real people. I'm comfortable working directly with customers — whether that's jumping on a call, sitting down face-to-face, or traveling on-site to diagnose and work through problems together. I prioritize clear communication and decisive problem-solving to keep teams aligned and customers satisfied.
I'm seeking Engineering Manager, Product Manager, or Project Manager roles in the Columbia, SC area, remote or hybrid roles. Culture is everything to me. I want to be part of a team where people know each other's names, leadership has an open door, and the work actually means something.
Company size is secondary. What I'm really after is a place where I can learn how things work, bring my experience to the table, and help improve both the processes and the products. I'm energized by new industries, new markets, and new problems — and I have a track record of walking into complex situations and making them better.
If that sounds like your team, I'd love to talk.
Let's ConnectIntensive internal leadership development program focused on team management, operational strategy, and front-line supervision.
Selected to represent SafeRack at a week-long Lean/Kaizen event bringing together representatives from each portfolio company. Worked directly alongside local manufacturing employees to identify and implement process improvements, then presented findings to the host company's CEO, COO, and senior MiddleGround Capital leadership — entirely in an international setting without a shared language.
"Thomas has a rare ability to walk into a complicated situation, cut through the noise, and get things moving. I watched him take projects that had been stalled for years and drive them across the finish line through sheer focus and good judgment. He's the kind of engineer who makes everyone around him better."
"Working with Thomas over the years has been genuinely different from working with most engineers. He comes prepared, he understands the business side of what we're doing together, and he treats the partnership like it matters — because to him, it does. I'd work with him again without hesitation."
"Thomas was the kind of manager you actually wanted to work for. He gave you real responsibility, backed you up when it mattered, and always made time to help you figure things out — without doing it for you. I learned more about how to do my job well under his leadership than at any other point in my career."
"Thomas doesn't just understand the engineering — he understands the whole picture. He pushed us to think through problems we didn't even know we had yet, and the products we shipped together were better for it. Smart, collaborative, and genuinely invested in getting it right."
Open to Engineering Manager, Product Manager, and Project Manager roles in the Columbia, SC area or remote. If you think I'd be a good fit for your team, I'd love to connect.
linkedin.com/in/thomas-backman-6210265b