Position SummaryThe Product Engineer - Sustaining is responsible for sustaining and improving existing Automotive and Industrial Fluids products after transition from R&D into commercial operation. This individual contributor role serves as the technical owner for assigned products throughout their lifecycle, partnering closely with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to resolve product issues, support business continuity, improve cost and manufacturability, and maintain product performance, quality, and compliance.
Key Responsibilities- Serve as the primary engineering contact for sustaining support of assigned existing products, including technical troubleshooting, product changes, and lifecycle management activities.
- Lead or support engineering change requests related to raw material changes, supplier changes, manufacturing process updates, packaging changes, cost reduction initiatives, and quality improvements.
- Partner with R&D to receive and maintain product knowledge, specifications, formulations, test methods, design intent, and technical rationale for products transitioned to the business.
- Collaborate with Quality to investigate product nonconformances, customer complaints, deviations, and corrective/preventive actions, ensuring sound technical root cause analysis and effective resolution.
- Work with Manufacturing to improve product manufacturability, process robustness, yield, throughput, and operational consistency while maintaining product performance requirements.
- Support Supply Chain by evaluating alternate materials, supplier qualifications, obsolescence risks, and continuity-of-supply issues.
- Maintain and update product specifications, technical documentation, bills of materials, test requirements, and change records as needed.
- Analyze product performance, manufacturing data, customer feedback, and quality trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Support regulatory, compliance, and customer-driven updates by assessing technical impact and coordinating implementation with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Provide technical guidance to internal teams regarding product capabilities, limitations, changes, and lifecycle status.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
- Ability to understand product specifications, formulation or materials requirements, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
- Strong problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis, data interpretation, and disciplined decision-making.
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience in wet chemistry lab environment; familiar with basic laboratory practice
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in product engineering, sustaining engineering, lifecycle engineering, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, quality engineering, or a related technical role.
- Experience supporting automotive fluids, industrial fluids, chemicals, coatings, lubricants, additives, or related formulated products.
- Knowledge of automotive, industrial, or chemical manufacturing environments.
- Experience with engineering change control, product lifecycle management systems, quality management systems, and bill of material management.
- Familiarity with statistical analysis, design of experiments, process capability, or continuous improvement tools.
- Experience supporting customer audits, supplier qualifications, regulatory updates, or technical customer inquiries
Key Competencies- Technical ownership and accountability
- Structured problem solving and root cause analysis
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Attention to detail and documentation discipline
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Business and customer focus
- Ability to balance quality, cost, manufacturability, and supply continuity
This opportunity offers a competitive benefits package including:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness benefits
- Company-matching 401(k) plan
- Company-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment benefits
- Company-paid identity theft insurance
- Company-paid disability
- Flexible spending and health savings accounts
- Company-paid employee assistance program
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Additional benefits included: voluntary life insurance, legal benefits, critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, and pet insurance
