Development Engineer

Sterling St James LLC; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling St James LLC in Charlotte, NC (On-Site) is seeking a Product Engineer to drive product readiness and lifecycle execution within our Product Development Engineering team. You will own product data architecture, BOM design, ECN/ECO management, and engineering change control, coordinating with design, sourcing, and manufacturing to deliver robust, scalable solutions.

Starting immediately on a high-priority outdoor electric patio heater initiative, you will optimize supplier networks,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Engineering.
• 3+ years in product engineering, manufacturing engineering, NPD coordination, or technical product data management.
• Hands-on experience structuring product BOMs, managing part masters, and processing ECNs within ERP/PLM software environments.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and collaborate with vendors and internal design teams.

Responsibilities

• Product Engineering & Data Architecture: design and maintain multi-level BOMs from prototype to production release.
• Engineering Change Management: lead ECN/ECO reviews and manage revisions and lifecycle transitions.
• Production Handoff & Documentation: ensure smooth line introductions and maintain technical deliverables.

Skills

BOM design

Engineering change management

Master data control

ERP/PLM experience

Vendor collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MAX ERP

SAP

SolidWorks PDM

Arena

Windchill

Job description

Job Title: Product Engineer

Location: Charlotte, NC (On-Site)

Compensation: $95,000 – $110,000 / year

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Department: Engineering

Reports To: Director of Engineering

Role Purpose

We are seeking a Product Engineer to drive product readiness and lifecycle execution within our Product Development Engineering team. In this role, you will be the technical bridge connecting design concepts to full-scale manufacturing, taking ownership of product data architecture, component sourcing strategy, and engineering change execution.

You will play a pivotal role in bringing new innovations to market—starting immediately with a high-priority outdoor electric patio heater initiative. By designing robust Bills of Materials (BOMs), optimizing technical supplier networks, and managing critical engineering releases, you will ensure our products are built for scalability, quality, and supply chain resilience.

Core Responsibilities

1. Product Engineering & Data Architecture

• System Architecture & BOM Design: Architect and maintain complex, multi-level Bills of Materials (BOMs) from early prototype phases through full production release, ensuring structural integrity across electrical, thermal, and mechanical assemblies.

• Engineering Change Management: Lead the technical review and execution of Engineering Change Notices (ECNs/ECOs), managing component revisions, configuration control, and ERP/PLM lifecycle transitions.

• Technical Master Data Control: Establish and enforce part categorization, item attributes, and technical master data standards to support seamless handoffs between Engineering, Purchasing, and Manufacturing.

2. Technical Component Sourcing & Supplier Integration

• Strategic Component Sourcing: Identify, evaluate, and qualify critical components (e.g., heating elements, thermal controls, sensors, switches, and custom enclosures) based on performance specifications from project design engineers.

• Alternate Sourcing & Value Engineering: Proactively identify secondary component sources and alternate suppliers to build supply chain resilience, reduce component lead times, and optimize product costs.

• Supplier Technical Interface: Act as the primary technical liaison with component suppliers, coordinating sample reviews, technical performance queries, and component validation testing.

3. Product Release & Cross-Functional Execution

• Production Handoff: Partner directly with Operations and Manufacturing Engineers to ensure smooth line introductions, resolving component fit, data structure, or supply bottlenecks in real time.

• Technical Documentation: Author and maintain comprehensive technical deliverables, including engineering assembly specs, service documentation, and component revision releases.

• NPD Readiness Tracking: Monitor engineering release schedules and documentation milestones, giving the Chief Engineer clear visibility into product launch readiness.

Position Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Engineering Technology).

• Experience: 3+ years of experience in product engineering, manufacturing engineering, NPD coordination, or technical product data management.

• Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience structuring product BOMs, managing part masters, and processing ECNs within ERP/PLM software environments (e.g., MAX, SAP, SolidWorks PDM, Arena, or Windchill).

• Engineering Problem-Solving: Demonstrated capability to read engineering drawings, evaluate component specs, and collaborate effectively with vendors and internal design teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical exposure to electromechanical systems, thermal elements, or heating/appliance hardware.

• Experience with Value Engineering (VAVE) or dual-sourcing strategies.

• Experience utilizing MAX ERP software.