Product Development Engineer - 80-95K

The Product Development Engineer is a key driver of the product development process with direct visibility to senior management. In this highly technical role, you will lead and manage multiple new product development programs with accountability to deliver projects on time and on budget, that exceed customer expectations. The role requires strong project management and leadership skills, Design & Analysis Skills, as you direct a cross-functional team through all phases of program development from inception through commercialized product.

Key Functions/Responsibilities:

• Develops and manages robust project plans including the identification and management of the critical path
• Ability to develop and/or modify customer designs within Solid Works and/or Creo. Also, will require at times the need to develop structural FEA and Mold Flow analysis
• Proactively drive innovative design solutions by developing direct relationships within new and existing accounts which lead to new bookings and revenue
• Lead regular customer and internal program review sessions to communicate project costs, schedule, and technical performance
• Create a strong working relationship with a cross functional team of resources, acting as the primary leader for all project activities
• Identifies critical dependences, risks, and contingency plans. Proactively monitors progress, anticipating the effect of dependencies on schedule and cost, etc. Evaluates the effects of customer driven engineering changes, and communicates the impact on cost and timing to the customer in a timely manner
• Ensures project deliverables are met with the highest expectations of quality, consistently on time and within budget. Manage the expectations of the customer with respect to cost, timing, product durability and aesthetics development
• Ensure optimized product designs for the company's composite materials and manufacturing processes to ensure operational excellence and maximized productivity
• Identifies and facilitates the resolution of conflicting issues
• Leverage outside resources to drive programs in a proactive manner, assisting customers with design concepts, prototyping new applications thereby positioning the firm as a solutions provider
• Visit customer design locations and plants to define application requirements, develop engineering, production and purchasing relationships to differentiate our company as the technical industry leader for composite solutions
• Translate customer applications into innovative designs using composite technologies to displace incumbent engineering materials

Education and Skills/Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required, preferably in Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience in an engineering role in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Knowledge of Solid works or Creo
• Knowledge of mold flow analysis a bonus
• Knowledge of Finite Element analysis a bonus
• Experience with thermoset composite materials a plus
• Ability to balance customer, manufacturing, business and regulatory requirements
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbal and written), interact, and influence with all levels including production employees, staff associates, various department managers, the Plant Leadership Teams, and the Executive Committee.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry.
• Demonstrated use of sound judgment and ability to make decisions in a consistent a manner.
• Must be resourceful, highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Project and Microsoft Office
• Ability to travel up to 20%