Product Design Engineer

The Planet Group - Product Design 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.