Product Development Engineer (Mechanical)

T-Rex Water Trucks; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

T-Rex Manufacturing in Sunshine West, VIC, is seeking a Product Development Engineer (Mechanical) to lead the development of new products and manage ongoing projects from concept to production. This on-site role will span design, prototyping, testing and production handover, reporting to the General Manager.

You will apply advanced SolidWorks skills, GD&T and DFMA practices, build prototypes, create manufacturing drawings and collaborate with suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 5+ years in mechanical product development.
• Advanced SolidWorks skills and GD&T.
• Clear technical writing for instructions, test reports and customer documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple product projects from market research through to release.
• Help set and maintain the product development roadmap.
• Design new products and variants in SolidWorks for CNC machining, fabrication and casting.
• Build and iterate prototypes using in-house 3D printing and contractor-made parts.
• Write test plans and run flow, pressure, durability and field trials.
• Produce complete AS 1100 manufacturing drawings with tolerancing and GD&T.
• Source and select suppliers; issue RFQs and inspect samples.
• Develop inspection and QC procedures and resolve non-conforming parts.
• Ensure products meet relevant Australian and international standards.
• Create datasheets, GA drawings, exploded views, performance data and manuals.
• Investigate field failures and warranty claims.
• Improve assembly methods and fixtures; drive continuous improvement.
• Train production staff on products and assembly procedures.

Skills

Product development

DFMA

Prototyping

Technical communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

3D printing

CSWP certification

ERP systems

Job description

T-Rex Manufacturing is a well-established and growing business that designs and manufactures fluid handling and dust suppression equipment (water cannons, pumps, hose reels, spray systems and associated control hardware) for mining, construction and agriculture.

Product Development Engineer (Mechanical)
T-Rex Manufacturing | Sunshine West, VIC | Full time, permanent

Do you want to see your designs go from a SolidWorks model to a prototype, through testing and onto the factory floor, and own every step along the way?

T-Rex Manufacturing is looking for an experienced Product Development Engineer to lead the development of our new products and look after our existing range. It's a hands-on, on-site role at our Sunshine West factory.

About the role

You'll report to the General Manager and work across the whole product lifecycle:

Run several product projects at once, from market research, benchmarking and feasibility through to release

Help the Managing Director set and maintain the product development roadmap

Design new products and variants in SolidWorks using sound DFMA practice for CNC machining, fabrication, welding and casting

Build and iterate prototypes using in-house 3D printing and contractor-made parts

Write test plans, then run flow, pressure, durability and field trials

Produce complete AS 1100 manufacturing drawings with correct tolerancing and GD&T

Source and select suppliers for new components: issue RFQs, assess capability and inspect samples

Product lifecycle and quality

Develop inspection and QC procedures, and resolve non-conforming parts with suppliers

Make sure products meet the relevant Australian and international standards

Create customer technical material: datasheets, GA drawings, exploded views, performance data and manuals

Investigate field failures and warranty claims

Solve production and supplier issues

Improve assembly methods, jigs and fixtures, and drive continuous improvement

Train production staff on products, drawings and assembly procedures

About you

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent)

5+ years in mechanical product development, ideally with fluid handling, industrial or mobile equipment

A proven record of taking products from concept through to production

Advanced SolidWorks skills (parts, assemblies, configurations and drawings)

Strong 2D drafting and GD&T that external machinists and fabricators can build from

Working knowledge of CNC machining (lathe, 3-axis and 5-axis), fabrication, welding and casting

Clear technical writing for instructions, test reports and customer documents

Comfortable using AI tools in your engineering workflow

Happy to get hands-on with prototyping, testing and working alongside assemblers

Hydraulic and pneumatic systems

DC circuits and embedded systems

ERP systems (BOMs, routings, engineering change)

3D printing and rapid prototyping

CSWP certification or higher

Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and DFMA

You'll be innovative and commercially minded, with a sharp eye for detail. You communicate easily with people on the factory floor and in the boardroom alike, and you take ownership of projects through to completion.

Real ownership: your designs go into production and you see them through

A broad role covering design, prototyping, testing, quality and production

Direct input into the product roadmap

Applicants must have full working rights in Australia.