Product Engineer

Position Summary: The Product Engineer or Sr. Product Engineer designs and directs installation of mechanical or electromechanical products, aftermarket products, and/or plant systems. This role is responsible for designing, developing, supporting, and improving new and existing products, kits, and components and fabricating and/or testing prototypes. Ensures product integrity, technical accuracy, and applicability. This position also releases final product for manufacture and distribution.

Description of Essential Job Functions:

• Manages projects, changes, and/or development from start through completion while communicating, supporting, and interacting with other functional groups.
• Plans, designs, and develops products or components in projects assigned. Prepares or directs preparation of product or system layout and detailed drawings and schematics. Plans and develops experimental test programs. Directs and coordinates manufacturing or building of prototype product or system. Analyzes test data and reports to determine if design meets functional and performance specifications.
• Gathers and analyzes research data and proposed product specifications. Determines feasibility of designing new or replacement products on existing equipment considering costs, available space, time limitations, and other technical and economic factors. Confers with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and develops design or prepares design modifications. When necessary, conducts business case analysis and planning to effectively commercialize new products.
• Compiles and analyzes operational, test, and research data to establish performance standards for newly designed or modified equipment or product. Evaluates engineering test results for possible application to developments of systems or other uses.
• Leads and reviews Engineering Change Order projects to update existing products and processes. Publish technical bulletins and notifications to customers and suppliers as needed.
• Reviews and analyzes series production of new products as needed to ensure the highest quality standards and lowest cost levels are met.
• Uses computer assisted engineering and design software and equipment to perform engineering and design tasks.
• Creates and updates bills of materials using CAD and ERP systems. Consults with suppliers in relation to parts or products necessary to design or improve products and components.
• Provides design, prototype, and validation support for improving existing product and kits.
• Oversees installation and testing of field test units at customer sites or via live video conferencing. Inspects, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs field test units as necessary.
• Analyzes product or equipment specifications and performance requirements to determine designs which can be produced by existing manufacturing or processing facilities and methods.
• Investigates returns (RMA) and manufacturing and quality issues with products. Initiates corrective actions, and engineering changes as necessary to enhance products. Participates in resolution of supplier quality issues with Purchasing team.
• Explores secondary supplier options to reduce existing product costs and lead times.
• Consults with suppliers in relation to parts or products necessary to design or improve products and components Assists customer service department in identifying needed aftermarket repair products and services.
• Provides technical information concerning manufacturing or processing techniques, materials, properties, and process advantages and limitations which affect long range plant and product engineering planning.
• Creates product documentation including manuals, specification sheets, and layout drawings to support new products. Updates product manuals, as necessary, to stay current with product and component changes.
• Develops in-house and field work instructions to assist with the manufacturing processes and/or installation of products.
• Diagnose, repair, and install company’s related products and unrelated office and warehouse products and equipment on company’s premises as deemed necessary.
• Visits new and established suppliers looking for advances in new technology, status of existing product, opportunities for cost saving, current capabilities. and supporting root cause analysis.
• Monitors and analyzes the technology markets, customer feedback, and benchmarking to identify and understand new product opportunities.
• Initially train Technical Support staff on the product, and support more complicated issues as they arise.
• Handle product revisions and customer requested specials for quoting and manufacturing.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field. Master’s Degree a plus.
• 5-7 years of engineering experience, preferably in product design engineering duties with a strong work background within a manufacturing environment or exposure to electromechanical products.
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects.
• Advanced/Intermediate experience with industry drafting and CAD standards.
• Experience in product design, GD&T, using CAD tools, FEA, and DFMEA.
• Electrical circuits, hydraulic circuits, and welding standards experience a plus.
• Significant “hands on the product” type experience with ability to recognize problems, predict potential outcomes, and implement countermeasures quickly enough to avoid problems.

Other Skills, Abilities, or Competencies:

• Ability to lead an engineering project.
• Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools.
• Advanced/Hands on approach to problem solving and analysis.
• Customer service orientation and approach to daily responsibilities.
• Ability to function as a team member and contribute to group goals.
• The ability to develop, coordinate, and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Detail oriented with the ability to track and monitor projects from inception to completion.
• Ability to organize personal workload, prioritize activities, and accomplish tasks under deadline pressure.
• Excellent electrical and mechanical aptitude/troubleshooting skills, and the ability to read engineering drawings.
• Ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardizations exist.
• Strong oral and written technical communication skills to communicate with managers, fellow employees, customers, and vendors.
• Maintain thorough knowledge and understanding of each customer’s specifications, standards, and other engineering requirements.
• Ability to work in a group setting and independently while multi-tasking and adjusting to changing priorities in a minimally supervised fast paced environment.
• Requires independent judgment and discretion with project framework for planning, organization, control, integration and completion of projects and company objectives.
• General understanding and working knowledge of manufacturing, assembly, sewing, and welding equipment and tooling including design, gauges, equipment design, automation, robotics, or manufacturing processes.
• Working knowledge of material types specifications and characteristics used in dock levelers, dock seals & shelters, impactable dock doors