Summary of Position:
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Thirty-Five Capital’s mission is to help start-up, early stage, and family businesses grow through the strategic infusion of capital and hands-on leadership. The firm’s focus is on sports and technology, with brands such as Paddletek Pickleball, Homewood Bat, JAW Bats, and ProXR being part of the ever-growing portfolio. ProXR, LLC provides research and development and innovative product development services for Thirty-Five Capital’s product brands.
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We are seeking a highly motivated and hands-on Product Development Engineer with 3 – 5 years of experience in plastic injection molding, rubber molding, foamed materials, or related manufacturing processes to join our growing Product Development team. This role will support the design, development, testing, and commercialization of innovative sporting goods products across multiple categories, including pickleball, padel, baseball, softball, hockey, and golf. Working closely with the Senior R&D Engineer, the Product Engineer will play a key role in bringing products from concept through production while helping drive innovation, performance, quality, and manufacturability.
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The ideal candidate is technically curious, collaborative, and excited to learn new sports, materials, and manufacturing technologies. This position offers the opportunity to work on a wide range of products and directly influence the development of industry-leading sporting goods.
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The position is located at our Wheeling, IL location and will report to the Senior Research and Development Engineer. Travel both domestic and international, up to 10% is required.
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Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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As the firm continues to grow quickly, the ideal candidate will possess a tremendous amount of flexibility and resourcefulness in regard to traditional duties and responsibilities. The work will continue to change; however, the following functions will form the foundation of the position.
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Product Development & Engineering
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- Design, develop, prototype, and validate new sporting goods products and components.
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- Support all phases of the product development process from concept generation through commercialization.
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- Develop and evaluate product designs utilizing plastic injection molded, rubber molded, and foam-based materials and assemblies.
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- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, product specifications, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
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- Conduct design reviews and recommend improvements for product performance, durability, manufacturability, and cost optimization.
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- Participate in athlete testing, product evaluations, and performance feedback sessions.
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Manufacturing & Supplier Collaboration
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- Work closely with domestic and overseas manufacturing partners to ensure successful product launches.
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- Collaborate with tooling suppliers and factories on mold design, tooling modifications, and production readiness.
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- Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to optimize product designs and manufacturing processes.
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- Support pilot production runs and assist in troubleshooting manufacturing issues.
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Testing & Validation
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- Assist in developing and executing product testing plans.
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- Evaluate product performance, durability, and reliability through laboratory and field testing.
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- Analyze test results and implement design improvements based on findings.
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- Support quality and validation efforts throughout development and production.
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Innovation and Continuous Improvement
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- Research emerging materials, manufacturing processes, and technologies applicable to sporting goods.
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- Identify opportunities to improve product performance, manufacturing efficiency, and cost.
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- Support continuous improvement initiatives related to existing products and manufacturing processes.
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- Maintain organized project documentation and effectively communicate project status to stakeholders.
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Qualifications:
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- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Product Design Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
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- 3–5 years of product development or manufacturing engineering experience.
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- Proficiency in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Office Suite
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- Experience working with plastic injection molding, rubber molding, foamed materials, or similar manufacturing processes.
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- Understanding of tooling, manufacturing methods, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
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- Understanding of patent research, intellectual property considerations, and product innovation processes.
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- Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
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- Experience creating technical drawings, BOMs, specifications, and engineering documentation.
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- Demonstrated project management experience.
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- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
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- Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced development environment.
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Preferred
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- Experience developing consumer products or sporting goods.
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- Experience working with overseas manufacturing partners and suppliers.
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- Knowledge of impact-resistant, energy-return, or performance-enhancing materials.
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- Familiarity with sporting goods testing methods and validation processes.
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- Experience with composite materials, laminates, or advanced material systems.
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- Hands on prototyping and testing experience.
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What We’ll Provide:
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- Competitive compensation of $90,000 and benefits
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- Paid time off
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- Retirement plan with company match
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- Professional development opportunities
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- Smart casual dress
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