Product Design Engineer
The Planet Group · Batavia, Illinois, US ·
- Category
- Design
- Experience
- 3+ years
- Company size
- 501-1000
- Salary
- USD 110,000 – 130,000 / year
Designs and engineers commercial foodservice equipment like refrigeration units and stainless-steel carts, leading projects from concept to launch while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Product Design Engineer
New Product Engineer
Position Summary
The New Product Engineer is responsible for leading the engineering development of innovative commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept through product launch. This role works cross-functionally with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to develop products that meet customer needs, industry regulations, and company growth objectives.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with experience in product development, strong project management skills, and a passion for bringing innovative products to market.
Compensation will be based upon experience: 110K-150K plus bonus
Key Responsibilities
Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Key Competencies
Success Measures
#tpgsj
New Product Engineer
Position Summary
The New Product Engineer is responsible for leading the engineering development of innovative commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept through product launch. This role works cross-functionally with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to develop products that meet customer needs, industry regulations, and company growth objectives.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with experience in product development, strong project management skills, and a passion for bringing innovative products to market.
Compensation will be based upon experience: 110K-150K plus bonus
Key Responsibilities
- Lead engineering efforts for new product development projects from concept through commercial launch.
- Collaborate with Product Management to translate Voice of Customer (VOC) into product requirements and engineering specifications.
- Design and develop commercial food service equipment using sound engineering principles focused on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
- Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documentation.
- Develop and evaluate prototypes through laboratory and field testing.
- Conduct design reviews, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and risk assessments throughout the development process.
- Manage engineering timelines and deliverables to support new product launch schedules.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure products are optimized for efficient production and assembly.
- Work with Supply Chain to identify and qualify components and suppliers while driving cost reduction initiatives.
- Support product validation, certification, and compliance with applicable UL, NSF, DOE, EPA, CSA, CE, and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
- Coordinate engineering changes and product improvements after launch based on customer feedback and field performance.
- Participate in value engineering projects to improve product quality, reliability, and profitability.
- Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Manufacturing teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
- 3-8 years of experience in product design or new product development, preferably within the commercial Food & Beverage equipment industry.
- Experience managing multiple product development projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software.
- Knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding, castings, plastics, electrical components, and manufacturing processes.
- Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
- Experience creating engineering documentation including BOMs, engineering change orders (ECOs), and technical specifications.
- Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and project management abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing cooking, holding, refrigeration, beverage, or countertop foodservice equipment.
- Working knowledge of electrical systems, controls, gas systems, refrigeration systems, or thermal engineering.
- Experience with stage-gate product development processes.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Key Competencies
- Product Innovation
- New Product Development (NPD)
- Mechanical Design
- Project Management
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Customer Focus
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
- Problem Solving
- Continuous Improvement
- Cost Optimization
Success Measures
- Successfully launch new products on schedule and within budget.
- Deliver products that meet customer expectations for performance, quality, and reliability.
- Improve time-to-market through effective project management and collaboration.
- Reduce manufacturing costs through value engineering and design optimization.
- Support company growth by developing innovative products that expand market share and strengthen the product portfolio.
#tpgsj