Lead Product EngineerAs a senior-level engineering professional, the Lead Product Engineer plays a pivotal role in the design, development, and enhancement of products, serving as a key technical expert within the team. This technical leadership position is responsible for ensuring successful project outcomes and the on-time delivery of product development initiatives in the tool industry. The role requires advanced problem-solving skills, analytical expertise, and the ability to evaluate and implement innovative solutions with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical, leadership, and project management capabilities.
Key Responsibilities- Apply theoretical principles and practical approaches to design products and systems that meet program requirements.
- Independently make decisions on complex engineering problems and methodologies.
- Drive innovation by improving products and contributing to the development of cutting-edge solutions.
- Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for at least one product category within Klein Tools.
- Represent the organization in vendor meetings to resolve critical issues and coordinate work plans.
- Proactively manage multiple medium- to high-complexity projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality outcomes.
- Develop and maintain project timelines within the phase-gate product development framework.
- Oversee and coordinate multiple high-priority tasks, delegating effectively when necessary.
- Conduct advanced problem-solving, including feasibility studies, cost analysis, and evaluation of engineering proposals.
- Coordinate technical development activities and resolve design and testing challenges.
- Act as a liaison with internal customers and vendors to ensure designs meet user needs and specifications.
- Communicate complex engineering concepts clearly and concisely to diverse audiences, including internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Create high-level PowerPoint presentations to convey technical and project evaluations.
- Utilize advanced Excel functions (e.g., pivot tables, macros) for data analysis and reporting.
- Perform complex 3D CAD modeling and 2D drafting, including advanced FEA studies with minimal guidance.
- Continuously review and implement changes to keep projects on schedule.
- Align engineering projects with organizational goals and strategic priorities.
- Collaborate closely with team leaders, business unit managers, and the executive team.
- Provide mentorship and guidance to engineers within the department and project teams.
- Minimize financial impact during project implementation across facilities.
- Act as a teacher and advocate for Klein Tools' New Product Development (NPD) processes.
- Partner with Product Management to develop new products and customer-driven feature sets.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications- Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
- Experience: Five (5) or more years of direct work experience in product development and engineering.
- Skills:
- Strong technical, analytical, planning, and organizational abilities.
- Comprehensive understanding of new product development (NPD) and introduction (NPI) processes.
- Proficiency in managing complex projects with multiple interactions and stakeholders.
- Conflict resolution and team leadership experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical and financial analyses to all organizational levels.
- Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD modeling, FEA studies, and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint).
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively under time constraints.
- Strong team orientation and collaboration skills with internal and external partners.
*International Travel Required
Your main focus:
• Quality
• Customer Obsession
• Innovation
• Ownership
• Teamwork
