Senior Product Development Engineer

Senior Product Development Engineer - 3D Knitting

Position Summary The Senior Product Development Engineer - 3D Knitting is responsible for leading product development efforts using advanced 3D knitting technology to create next-generation heater products. This role is based at Watlow's Portland Technology Development Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, and reports to the Site Leader, Portland TDC. The Senior Product Development Engineer will apply deep textile manufacturing expertise to design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize industrial knitting processes while partnering with product development teams in St. Louis, Querétaro, Mexico, and other global locations. This position plays a key role in translating complex 3D shapes into effective knitting patterns and supporting the rollout of new textile manufacturing applications across Watlow.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, programming, and development of textiles using advanced 3D knitting techniques to manufacture complex heaters.
• Apply 3D knitting technology to support next-generation heater product development and new textile manufacturing applications.
• Work closely with product development teams located in St. Louis, Mexico, and other global sites to achieve project goals and ensure alignment across teams.
• Troubleshoot issues related to knitting machine performance and textile output to support quality standards and efficient operation.
• Address unique challenges in adapting knitting technology to new applications, including translating complex 3D shapes into effective knitting patterns.
• Support simultaneous product development efforts across multiple locations and contribute to future global site rollout.

Qualifications

• Ability to work creatively within a high-pressure, fast-paced environment to adapt and optimize knitting technology for unique product applications.
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across departments and locations.
• Demonstrated ability to solve technical problems, troubleshoot process issues, and support product development in a manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in advanced knitting with a proven background in textile manufacturing.
• Experience in technical textiles or manufacturing industries.
• Proven experience programming, operating, and troubleshooting 3D knitting machines.
• Solid understanding of industrial knitting processes and equipment.

Travel

Initial travel between St. Louis and the Querétaro, Mexico campus will be needed to support simultaneous product development efforts. Future travel to support rollout to other global sites is anticipated.

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us. The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits :

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member's individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at View email address on click.appcast.io.