Product Design Engineer

Company Overview:  

Experience matters. Since 1948, T.O. Plastics has manufactured quality custom thermoformed parts and packaging and provided exceptional service to horticulture, medical and industrial customers around the world. One of the top 100 thermoforming companies in North America, T.O. Plastics delivers value by focusing on customer needs and by offering a full range of services from design-to-manufacture. At T.O. Plastics, we are dedicated to excellence, and we leverage our experience and core competency to develop customized, cost-effective solutions for businesses in diverse markets. T.O. Plastics has facilities in both Clearwater and Otsego, Minnesota. It is our Mission to “delight and serve our customers with innovative thermoform solutions”.  

Essential Functions:

This position is responsible for the following tasks, duties, and responsibilities:

• Generate product designs to meet customer needs primarily within our Horticulture value stream.
• Develop thermoforming tool designs in support of our product designs. These designs include forming molds and trim tooling
• Establish tooling and manufacturing process to full utilization of equipment and efficient set up of products to ensure we are operating at optimum efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement within the thermoforming operation with a focus on tool designs and tooling optimization to support new and existing designs.
• Utilize available technologies to enhance the design, build and optimization of tooling in the thermoforming operations.
• Work with Quality, Manufacturing, and other design teams to ensure initial project prints are constructed and approved for production.
• Project Management to ensure timely completion of projects and programs
• Be the primary technical interface to the customer through the design and development phase of programs
• Act as the subject matter expert on Design for Manufacturability for customers to ensure long term sustainability in manufacturing.
• Management reporting for new product schedules and feasibility analysis
• Work closely with inside resources to ensure project specifications meet timelines.
• Assist Prototype and Quality Control to assure prototype model testing to validate designs.
• Aid in providing support for product risk/return and failure analysis
• Work with internal departments to support regulatory, ordering, inspection, manufacture and promotion of new products and product modifications.
• Support all ISO documentation and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Provide engineering support to other departments as required (i.e. Marketing, QA/QC, Regulatory, etc.).
• Team member of the Material Review Board and responsible for related decisions and explanations of current parts to print levels
• Team member for analysis on any product return and supporting documentation required.
• Maintain engineering managerial functions in the absence of the Engineering Manager
• Identify and report any unsafe work conditions, behaviors, or incidents.
• Follow and adhere to all safety procedures.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor/manager.

Education, Experience, & Skills: 

The qualifications listed here are guidelines.  Other combinations of education and experience could provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job.

• Minimum of B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent preferred.
• S. in Mechanical Engineering desirable
• Solid Works proficiency required.
• Experience with Thermoforming /Tooling for In-Line, Rotary and Single Station.
• Experience in an ISO environment
• Experience in Medical Packaging and Clean Room Environments
• Must be knowledgeable in standard engineering drawing practices
• Basic computer knowledge with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Etc.)
• Experience in management reporting – timeline implementation
• Planning and prioritizing skills relating to long and short-range goals.
• Ability to coordinate several projects at once
• Knowledge of precision machining a plus
• CNC programming skills in MasterCam a plus
• Knowledge of CadKey a plus
• Good oral and written skills are required to assure the flow of information is factual and timely.
• Must be able to work effectively in a team environment and facilitate positive interpersonal relations with co-workers
• Ability to communicate and coordinate efforts cross- functionally with various departments and outside vendors.
• Ability to be assertive and control engineering processes.
• This function must be able to communicate and use reasoning to assure smooth operations and customer satisfaction.
• Must demonstrate the ability to work effectively as the leader in a group environment that fosters cooperation between its members
• Must be able to present Engineering requirements in a professional manner to internal and external customers. This position must also communicate Engineering Goals and implementation plans for Part Master Control.
• Mathematics is an integral part of the Engineering function and is necessary to perform the requirements of this position.
• Engineering must interpret customer expectations and use reasoning to determine acceptable procedures, specifications to assure quality levels can be attained, and systems have the necessary information to be effective.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

The characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The Product Design Engineer position requires work to be performed in both office and the manufacturing environments with a balance between hands-on work and office work.
• Work performed in the well-lit manufacturing environment may include regular exposure to flying dust and debris; the smell of burnt plastic; high decibel equipment and loud noises; and extreme temperatures ranging from subzero up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The manufacturing environment is fast-moving and may require the mobility to bend, stoop, lift, carry, lift above shoulders, push, pull, walk, and stand throughout the duration of the shift.
• May be required to lift up to 50lbs occasionally.
• Must be able to wear all required personal protective equipment consistently and correctly. This may include wearing safety glasses, ear plugs, gloves, other safety equipment as designated, and adhering to the safety dress code.
• Work performed in the controlled and well-lit office work environment has few physical hazards.
• Visual acuity, manual dexterity, and hand function may be required to complete data entry, use technology, and complete other tasks as assigned.
• Light travel between company facilities and some travel to customers, trade shows, suppliers, and external meetings, etc. is required.

Local candidate only

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