Associate Product Development Engineer - KitchenAid

Whirlpool Corporation; Saint Joseph (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discount

Fitness reimbursement

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Whirlpool Corporation is seeking an entry-level Associate Product Development Engineer for KitchenAid at the St. Joseph Technology Center in MI.

You will bridge consumer needs and technical execution for the Espresso category, learning to translate insights into measurable engineering requirements and to drive validation plans. You will work with senior leaders to conduct competitive benchmarking, set technical targets, and manage design reviews while balancing cost, quality, and schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• Ability to apply engineering theory to practical problems.
• Demonstrated project or intern experience in engineering.

Responsibilities

• Support roadmap and architecture strategy for Espresso products.
• Translate consumer feedback into technical engineering specs.
• Lead target setting and benchmarking with cross-functional teams.
• Develop verification, validation, and testing plans.
• Drive advanced development and cross-functional trade-off decisions.
• Execute predictive validation using modeling and prototyping.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals

Systems thinking

Technical communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

Requisition ID: 72541

This Role In Summary

Whirlpool is currently seeking qualified candidates for an entry-level Associate Product Development Engineer - KitchenAid (Associate, Engineering). This is an onsite role at our St. Joseph Technology Center in MI. As an entry-level Systems Engineer, you will bridge the gap between consumer needs and technical execution for our Espresso category. Collaborating closely with senior technical leaders, you will learn to translate user insights into measurable engineering requirements, establish robust validation and testing plans, and drive advanced development projects from concept to reality. This role is a foundational launching pad for an engineer eager to develop deep expertise in systems thinking, competitive product benchmarking, and predictive modeling within a fast-paced innovation environment.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Support Category Roadmap & Architecture Strategy: Collaborate with Espresso technical leaders to identify business and innovation opportunities, translating knowledge gaps into early-stage development projects to reduce technical risks before product delivery.
• Translate Stakeholder Needs: Own the process of converting consumer feedback into clear, measurable technical engineering specifications.
• Lead Technical Target Setting: Own competitive product benchmarking and testing to define technical performance targets, while supporting Marketing and Legal teams on product claims validation.
• Develop Verification & Validation Plans: Lead the creation of robust testing, simulation, and compliance plans to ensure all system-level product requirements are met.
• Drive Advanced Development Projects: Own technical decision-making, lead design reviews, and manage cross-functional trade-offs (balancing cost, quality, and time) to ensure projects launch according to commitments.
• Execute Predictive Validation: Drive system testing from early concept through final product validation utilizing predictive modeling, simulation, and experimental prototyping methodologies.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
• 3+ months of Engineering experience (experience may include Internships, co-ops, or lab application)

Preferred Skills And Experiences

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical,Chemical, Electrical or Systems)
• Ability to apply engineering theory to practical problems and demonstrated technical ability through project work (internships, research, design projects, clubs)
• Demonstrated deep technical ability through classwork and project work
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts at a high level and in depth
• Demonstrated critical thinking ability and systems engineering mindset to solve challenging problems
• Displays curiosity and willingness to learn
• Actively involved in campus or community activities and organizations, preferably in leadership roles
• Ability to work with and lead teams
• "Own It" Attitude - self motivated to drive for differentiated results

What We Offer

Generous benefits package, Whirlpool employee discount, fitness & educational reimbursement programs, kitchenettes, and more! Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations: Beautiful, recently renovated office space, free coffee, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (depending upon availability - additional costs required).

Additional Information

Whirlpool’s Ways of Working

Benefits

Our goal is to provide an environment that helps you bring your best to Whirlpool every day. We offer flexibility and industry-leading time-off benefits that will help you balance what’s important at work and at home, including:

• Always On Flexibility - You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
• Two-Week Work from Anywhere - Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
• Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.

Connect with us and learn more about Whirlpool Corporation

See what it's like to work at Whirlpool by visiting Whirlpool Careers. Additional information about the company can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Whirlpool Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law.