Product Engineer

Product Engineer

Hickory, North Carolina, United States US Conec, Ltd. Engineering Innovation. Precision Plastics. Powering AI.

US Conec, Ltd. is a trusted, global company that prides itself on engineering excellence—creating innovative connectivity solutions that support today's most important technologies. We foster a friendly, inclusive culture that values teamwork, creativity, and mutual respect. At US Conec, you'll find real opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact in a company that genuinely cares about its people and its customers. With competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a supportive environment, this is a place where you can build your future—whether your interests lie in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or beyond.

Overview

US Conec is seeking a Product Engineer to join our Applications Engineering team. In this role, you will support the development, qualification, industrialization, and continuous improvement of innovative connectivity solutions by applying engineering principles, product knowledge, and data-driven analysis. You will collaborate closely with Research & Development, Product Management, Quality, Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Sales, customers, and suppliers to evaluate product performance, solve technical challenges, and drive product success throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Develop deep technical expertise in assigned products, including performance characteristics, applications, manufacturing considerations, and potential failure modes
• Plan, execute, and document product characterization, validation, and qualification testing to verify performance against product, customer, and industry requirements
• Design experiments, establish hypotheses, and analyze results to investigate product behavior, validate design changes, and solve technical problems
• Apply engineering and statistical methods to interpret data, identify trends, draw conclusions, and recommend solutions
• Support root cause investigations related to product performance, customer concerns, field issues, manufacturing observations, and qualification failures
• Evaluate the impact of product, material, supplier, process, tooling, and manufacturing changes on product performance and reliability
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support new product development, product launches, and successful transition from development into production
• Collaborate with Product Management and R&D to translate customer and market requirements into measurable product specifications and evaluation criteria
• Identify opportunities to improve product quality, manufacturability, performance, reliability, and cost throughout the product lifecycle
• Lead or contribute to engineering projects that enhance testing capabilities, product knowledge, technical documentation, and engineering best practices
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including test plans, qualification reports, engineering analyses, product characterization data, and technical recommendations
• Provide technical support to internal stakeholders and customers requiring detailed product knowledge and engineering analysis
• Engage with customers, suppliers, and external partners to understand application requirements and incorporate field feedback into product evaluations
• Maintain project schedules, communicate progress, and ensure alignment with business priorities
• Present technical findings, recommendations, and project outcomes to internal and external audiences
• Represent US Conec in technical discussions, industry forums, conferences, standards organizations, and customer engagements as needed

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 3-5 years of experience in product engineering, design engineering, applications engineering, or a related technical role
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and their application to testing, product validation, qualification, and technical problem solving
• Experience designing experiments, executing test plans, analyzing results, and developing data-driven recommendations
• Knowledge of engineering statistics, measurement systems, and data analysis techniques
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, product requirements, and technical standards
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills, including preparation of engineering reports and presentations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical information to diverse audiences
• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Self-motivated with strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering data analysis tools
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Nice to Haves

• Experience in the fiber optic, connectivity, telecommunications, cable, precision mechanical, or related technology industries
• Knowledge of optical science, fiber optics, connector technologies, materials engineering, dimensional tolerancing, or manufacturing processes
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and product industrialization activities
• Familiarity with statistical analysis software such as JMP, Minitab, or MATLAB
• Experience using laboratory measurement systems, optical test equipment, microscopes, vision systems, or environmental testing equipment
• Experience collaborating directly with customers, suppliers, and manufacturing organizations
• Exposure to ERP systems and engineering documentation management platforms
• Participation in industry standards organizations, technical conferences, or customer-facing technical engagements

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with performance-based bonus potential
• 4 weeks of PTO plus paid holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• A collaborative culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement
• Opportunities for career growth within a global technology leader

US Conec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Join US Conec today and be part of a team that values each other, promotes innovation and growth, and strives to exceed customer expectations in everything we do.

U S Conec is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.