Product Design Engineer

Job Description

Confidential Search- Chicagoland area

Product Design Engineer II

Position Overview

An established and growing manufacturer is seeking a Product Design Engineer II to play a key role in its New Product Development (NPD) process. This position will drive physical products from initial concept and feasibility through detailed design, validation, production launch, and post-launch support.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5+ years of product development experience, strong mechanical design capabilities, and demonstrated ownership of products from concept through production. The role requires the ability to work independently while collaborating across Engineering, Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and external manufacturing partners to deliver products that meet performance, cost, quality, and schedule objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• New Product Development: Lead and contribute to product development projects from concept and feasibility through design validation, pilot builds, production launch, and mass production.
• Product Design: Translate product, market, and customer requirements into engineering specifications, design concepts, and manufacturable solutions.
• Mechanical Design: Develop plastic and metal components, including extrusions, sheet metal, die-cast parts, and injection-molded components.
• Engineering Analysis: Perform tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA reviews, prototyping, design iterations, and engineering evaluations to ensure performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost effectiveness.
• BOM & Cost Management: Develop and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), evaluate component and tooling costs, and support product cost targets.
• Testing & Validation: Plan and support engineering testing, design verification, validation, and prototype evaluations.
• Supplier Coordination: Work with suppliers and contract manufacturers on tooling, samples, pilot builds, production readiness, quality, and issue resolution.
• Product Qualification: Support product testing, certification, and regulatory compliance activities applicable to product requirements.
• Technical Documentation: Create and maintain product specifications, engineering drawings, assembly instructions, and production documentation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Operations, Quality, and customers on product definition, design reviews, and successful product introductions.
• Post-Launch Support: Support released products through design improvements, cost reductions, quality improvements, and resolution of manufacturing or field issues.
• Documentation & Project Support: Maintain accurate engineering records and support additional product development activities as needed.

Requirements & Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of product design or product development experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Demonstrated experience taking physical products from concept through design, validation, production launch, and mass production.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD/modeling software; SolidWorks strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles and the interaction of mechanical, electrical, thermal, and material considerations.
• Working knowledge of plastic and metal manufacturing processes, tooling, DFM/DFA, tolerance analysis, and production-ready design practices.
• Experience with engineering testing, design verification, validation, and product qualification processes.
• Understanding of manufacturing operations, product introduction, production ramp-up, quality, and sustaining engineering.
• Strong project ownership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate with internal teams and external manufacturing partners.