Product Development Engineer

Position Overview

Our client is a global manufacturer of advanced equipment and tooling solutions for the plastics and packaging industry. They are seeking an experienced Product Development Engineer to join their engineering and product development organization.

This individual will lead the technical development of new packaging and injection molding products, from initial concept and system architecture through engineering validation, product release, and launch into manufacturing. The role offers significant ownership and visibility while working closely with engineering, manufacturing, business development, validation, and other cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical development of new products and tooling solutions from concept through manufacturing launch.
• Develop system-level designs and product architectures with limited direction and in situations where established design standards may not exist.
• Translate customer, market, and business requirements into technical product concepts.
• Participate in the development and evaluation of business cases for new products and technologies.
• Create system-level concepts including functional block diagrams, CAD layouts, functional decomposition, and preliminary design concepts.
• Lead and participate in design reviews, technical brainstorming, and product definition activities.
• Establish and review engineering documentation, validation plans, and product release requirements.
• Apply sound mechanical engineering principles to product design, development, and problem solving.
• Select and size mechanical and electromechanical components, including motors, sensors, bearings, gearboxes, belts, seals, servo systems, and pneumatic/hydraulic components.
• Select appropriate materials and apply relevant engineering and design standards.
• Lead or participate in risk assessment and FMEA activities and develop appropriate risk-mitigation strategies.
• Ensure products meet applicable regulatory, compliance, quality, and performance requirements.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, Software, Fluid Power, Analysis, Metallurgy, Validation/Test, and Business Development teams.
• Help drive the product development and product release processes while ensuring required technical milestones are met.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities throughout product development.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to other engineers and design team members.
• Serve as a technical resource for customers, suppliers, and external technology partners when needed.
• Present technical concepts, development status, and product strategies to internal leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Represent the engineering organization in cross-functional product development initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant mechanical/product design and development experience.
• Strong experience with product development, mechanical design, tooling, or complex engineered equipment.
• Specialized knowledge of injection molding, plastics processing, packaging equipment, and/or tooling.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing and assembly processes associated with injection molding tooling.
• Strong CAD modeling experience; UG/NX experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of engineering calculations, design parameters, material selection, and component sizing.
• Experience with mechanical and electromechanical components such as motors, sensors, bearings, gearboxes, belts, seals, servo motors, pneumatic systems, and hydraulic systems.
• Demonstrated ability to develop products from early-stage concepts through validation and manufacturing implementation.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in engineering and product development.
• Ability to take ownership of projects and work independently with limited direction.
• Experience leading projects or providing technical direction to other engineers.

Preferred Background

• Experience developing injection molding tooling or packaging-related products.
• Experience working within a formal product development or product release process.
• Experience with FMEA, design reviews, validation planning, and technical risk assessment.
• Experience working across mechanical, electrical, controls, software, manufacturing, and validation disciplines.
• Experience mentoring engineers or serving as a technical lead.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude and a strong understanding of how engineered products are manufactured, assembled, tested, and serviced.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior mechanical/product development engineer who can operate as the technical owner of a product, rather than simply execute designs assigned by others. This person should be comfortable taking an idea from an early-stage concept through system architecture, detailed engineering, validation, and production while coordinating with multiple technical disciplines.

You should be proficient in:

• Thermodynamics
• Mechanical Design & Engineering
• Product Design Experience
• Aerospace Manufacturing
• Plastic Extrusion Experience
• Injection Molding Experience
• Blow Molding Experience
• plastic

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• Injection Molding Machine (Toyo, Milacron, Toshiba, Niigata, Arburg, Van Dorn, Engel, Nissei, Sodick, Sumitomo, Haitian, Bole)
• Extrusion Machine
• Blow Molding Machine
• hot runner