Product Development Engineer

HSM

$70K — $95K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering field (Manufacturing, Materials, Industrial)
  • 5+ years of experience in product development or manufacturing engineering
  • Proven track record in leading product development from concept to launch
  • Skills in managing multiple projects and competing priorities
  • Experience with prototype development and validation activities
  • Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, AutoCAD)
  • Ability to interpret technical engineering documents and specifications

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop engineered solutions and CAD models
  • Translate customer requirements into cost-effective product designs
  • Lead product development from concept through production support
  • Collaborate with suppliers and teams to optimize manufacturing processes
  • Evaluate product performance and support validation activities
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality and efficiency
  • Research new materials and engineering practices for future product development

Benefits

  • Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
  • 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one
  • 3 Weeks of PTO plus company paid holidays
  • Free on-site medical clinics for employees and dependents
  • 24/7 access to Teladoc with no copay
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
  • Discounts with partners including Verizon Wireless and Dollywood Parks & Resort
Full Job Description
What You Will Do

  • Product Design and Development
    • Design and develop components, assemblies, and engineered product solutions.
    • Create and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and other technical documentation.
    • Develop functional prototypes using additive manufacturing and 3D-printing technologies.
    • Translate customer and business requirements into practical, manufacturable, and cost-effective designs.
    • Apply Design for Manufacturability, Design for Assembly, and Design for Cost principles.
    • Select appropriate materials, finishes, and manufacturing methods based on product requirements and production capabilities.
    • Manage engineering changes, product revisions, and configuration-controlled documentation.
  • Product Validation and Launch
    • Lead assigned product-development activities from initial concept through prototyping, validation, production launch, and ongoing support.
    • Partner with Process Engineering to optimize designs for tooling capability, process repeatability, manufacturability, and long-term production stability.
    • Support prototype builds, validation testing, first-article inspections, pilot production, and production-readiness activities.
    • Participate in APQP activities, including design reviews, DFMEAs, PFMEAs, Control Plans, PPAP documentation, and launch-readiness reviews.
    • Evaluate product performance through testing, capability studies, validation activities, and customer feedback.
  • Customer, Supplier, and Team Collaboration
    • Serve as the primary engineering contact for assigned products.
    • Collaborate with customers, tooling suppliers, material suppliers, and manufacturing partners to develop robust production solutions.
    • Participate in technical meetings, supplier evaluations, design reviews, and engineering-change discussions.
      Resolve technical and supplier-related concerns through engineering analysis, root-cause identification, and corrective action.
    • Communicate technical information clearly to customers, suppliers, leadership, and cross-functional teams.
  • Continuous Improvement and Innovation
    • Lead improvement initiatives focused on product performance, quality, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and customer satisfaction.
    • Identify opportunities for material optimization, tooling enhancements, value engineering, and manufacturing efficiencies.
    • Research emerging materials, additive-manufacturing methods, production technologies, and engineering best practices.
    • Recommend solutions that improve functionality, sustainability, quality, and overall customer value.
    • Support advanced product-development initiatives, technology roadmaps, and new business opportunities.


What You Will Bring

  • Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • At least five years of engineering experience in product development, manufacturing engineering, or new product development within a manufacturing environment; seven or more years preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience leading new products from concept through validation and production launch.
  • Experience managing multiple engineering projects and competing priorities.
  • Experience supporting prototype development, pilot production, first-article inspections, design validation, and production launches.
  • Working knowledge of APQP tools and methodologies, including design reviews, DFMEA, PFMEA, Process Flow Diagrams, Control Plans, and PPAP.
  • Proficiency with SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, or comparable 3D CAD software.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, tolerance stack-ups, and manufacturing documentation.
  • Experience collaborating with customers, suppliers, tooling partners, manufacturing teams, and cross-functional leadership.
  • Strong analytical, communication, project-management, and technical problem-solving skills.


Preferred Experience

  • Experience within automotive, commercial vehicle, transportation, recreational vehicle, specialty vehicle, engineered-products, or Tier 1 supplier environments.
  • Surface modeling or surfacing-design experience.
  • Experience preparing CAD models for additive manufacturing, prototype fabrication, tooling development, and production.
  • Knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and customer-specific automotive requirements.
  • Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, MSA, SPC, process capability, and related quality methodologies.
  • Experience using 8D, Five Why, Fishbone, and Root Cause Analysis.
  • Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and VAVE methodologies.
  • Experience with ERP and PLM systems; JD Edwards and Minitab experience is a plus.


Travel

This position requires the ability to travel up to 25% to support customer meetings, supplier development, tooling trials, prototype builds, validation activities, production launches, and HSM manufacturing facilities.

Why Join Us?

  • Health & Wellness: Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants.
  • Retire: 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one.
  • Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO: 3 Weeks of PTO + company paid holidays.
  • On-Site Medical Clinics: Free for you and covered dependents.
  • Teladoc: 24/7 access with no copay.
  • Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement, professional development assistance and career growth opportunities.
  • Discounts: Enjoy discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort, Verizon Wireless, and more.


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