Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required.
Minimum of 5 years of product engineering or design engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with sustaining engineering and product lifecycle management strongly preferred.
Knowledge of plastic part design and understanding of plastic injection molding processes.
Proficiency in SolidWorks (3D modeling, assemblies, and drawing creation).
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and cost reduction methodologies.
Responsibilities
Lead engineering support for existing products to ensure performance and compliance.
Investigate and resolve field issues and internal quality concerns.
Identify and implement design improvements for performance and manufacturability.
Drive initiatives to reduce defects and improve design simplicity.
Analyze product cost structures for potential reductions.
Participate in product quality reviews and corrective action processes.
Support design and development activities for new products.
Benefits
Comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans.
Company-sponsored life insurance.
Retirement security savings plan.
Short- and long-term disability programs.
Tuition assistance for ongoing education.
Full Job Description
Primary Function
The Product Engineer is responsible for sustaining and improving existing product lines while supporting new product development and manufacturing operations. This role focuses on continuous improvement, cost optimization, product quality, and maintaining accurate engineering documentation using SolidWorks.
Responsibilities
Product Sustaining & Lifecycle Management
Lead engineering support for currently manufactured products to ensure performance, reliability, and compliance.
Investigate and resolve field issues, customer complaints, and internal quality concerns.
Maintain product design integrity through controlled engineering change processes (ECR/ECO).
Continuous Improvement
Identify and implement design improvements to enhance product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Drive initiatives focused on reducing defects, improving durability, and simplifying designs.
Collaborate cross-functionally (Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain) to execute improvement projects.
Cost Reduction & Value Engineering
Analyze product cost structures and identify opportunities for material and component cost reductions.
Lead value engineering efforts, including alternative materials, supplier changes, and design simplification.
Support sourcing initiatives by working with suppliers to optimize cost and performance.
Product Quality Review
Participate in and lead product quality reviews, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
Utilize tools such as FMEA, 8D, and statistical analysis to address quality issues.
Partner with Quality Engineering to ensure compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.
New Product Development Support
Support design and development activities for new products, including prototyping, testing, and validation.
Provide design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-assembly (DFA) input.
Assist in transitioning new products from development to production.
Manufacturing Support
Provide engineering support to manufacturing teams to resolve production issues and improve throughput.
Develop and refine work instructions, assembly processes, and production documentation.
Participate in troubleshooting and process optimization on the production floor.
CAD Design & Documentation
Create, modify, and maintain 3D models, assemblies, and detailed drawings using SolidWorks.
Ensure all engineering documentation is accurate, complete, and compliant with company standards.
Manage BOMs, drawing revisions, and data within the PDM/PLM system.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required.
Experience
Minimum of 5 years of product engineering or design engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with sustaining engineering and product lifecycle management strongly preferred.
Knowledge of plastic part design and understanding of plastic injection molding processes.
Knowledge or water treatment and regulatory compliance preferred, but not required.
Technical Skills
Proficiency in SolidWorks (3D modeling, assemblies, and drawing creation).
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (e.g., injection molding, machining, assembly).
Experience with cost reduction and value engineering.
Familiarity with quality tools (FMEA, root cause analysis, Six Sigma methodologies).
Knowledge of PLM/PDM systems is preferred.
Competencies
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects to completion.
Detail-oriented with a focus on quality and continuous improvement.
Work Environment
Combination of office-based engineering work and hands-on support in a manufacturing environment.
Occasional travel to suppliers or manufacturing sites may be required.
S, CFD or FEA
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.
Good written and oral communication skills
We Offer
Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.
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About A.O. Smith
A.O. Smith Corporation is an American manufacturer of both residential and commercial water heaters and boilers. It is the largest manufacturer and marketer of water heaters in North America. It also supplies water treatment products in the Asian market. The company has two operating segments: North America and Rest of World. The North America segment manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, electric and solar water heaters, as well as boilers. The Rest of World segment manufactures and markets specialty commercial water heating equipment, condensing and non-condensing boilers, and water systems tanks.
