Entry-Level Product Design Engineer

Colonial Group; Saint Augustine (FL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Amphenol CIT in Saint Augustine, FL is seeking a Product Design Engineer II to design and cost wire and cable products for manufacturability, collaborating with Sales, Product Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain.

At level II, you will lead new product development projects, act as a primary technical liaison, drive continuous improvement, and mentor engineers and technicians while ensuring timely deliverables and cost-effective designs.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) or an Associate degree with at least five years of related engineering experience in the wire and cable industry.
• Proficiency with mathematical concepts, probability, and statistical inference.
• Minimum of three years of manufacturing experience, preferably in the wire and cable industry.
• Formal problem-solving and project management experience.
• Familiarity with Business Intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI).

Responsibilities

• Interpret customer specifications and industry standards to develop manufacturable, cost-effective designs.
• Provide design solutions to support new product opportunities and existing product enhancements.
• Leverage production capabilities to prepare design and cost estimates that maximize profitability.
• Serve as technical liaison between customers and development, customer service, and production teams.
• Work with established part number systems to assign proper part numbers to new products and structure designs within the MRP system.
• Improve and establish design procedures and utilize costing standards for quotes and orders.
• Lead cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and productivity initiatives.
• Mentor and coach other design engineers and technicians.

Skills

Power BI

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Data analysis

Education

BS in Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical) or related

5 years manufacturing/engineering in wire and cable

Tools

Power BI

Power Apps

Power Automate

MRP systems

Job description

Summary

The Product Design Engineer collaborates with customers, Sales/Customer Service, Product Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and New Product Development teams to design and cost wire and cable products for manufacturability. The role interprets customer specifications and industry standards, develops cost-effective design solutions for new and existing products, and leverages production capabilities to maximize profitability. At level II, the engineer additionally leads new product development projects, serves as a primary technical liaison, drives continuous improvement, and mentors design engineering technicians.

Essential Job Functions

• Interpret customer specifications and industry standards/documents to develop manufacturable, cost-effective designs.
• Provide design solutions to support new product opportunities and existing product enhancements.
• Leverage company production capabilities to prepare design and cost estimates that maximize profitability.
• Serve as technical liaison between customers and Amphenol CIT development, Customer Service, and production personnel.
• Work with established part number systems to assign proper part numbers to new products; structure designs within the MRP system.
• Improve and establish design procedures and utilize design and costing standards for quote and order processing.
• Work with Supply Chain, Process Engineering, and Quality in evaluating raw materials and suppliers.
• Perform technical contract review of quotes, specifications, purchase orders, and work orders.
• Prepare product specification sheets for Customer Service and customers.
• Develop, document, and maintain product BOMs, routings, and test plans for cable and assembly manufacture.
• Review work orders for accuracy of BOMs, routings, test plans, and revisions.
• Lead and manage new product development projects, ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
• Lead problem-solving efforts and cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and productivity initiatives.
• Support second-sourcing efforts and improve supplier performance with Supply Chain, Process Engineering, and Quality.
• Mentor and coach other Design Engineers and Technicians, fostering skill development and professional growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical preferred); or an Associate degree with at least five years of related engineering experience in the wire and cable industry.
• Proficiency with mathematical concepts, probability, and statistical inference.
• Minimum of three years of manufacturing experience, preferably in the wire and cable industry
• Formal problem-solving and project management experience.
• Familiarity with Business Intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI).

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Six Sigma green or black belt, preferred.
• DFSS certification would be a plus

Language Skills

• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools, including Power BI, Minitab, Power Apps, and Power Automate.

Job Skills

• Self-directed, resourceful, and capable of managing multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Good judgment and decision-making skills.
• Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced, changing environment while maintaining a positive team attitude.
• Reliable and willing to work additional hours on short notice to meet customer demands or deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams); knowledgeable in database applications.
• Solid presentation skills for internal and external audiences.
• Strong project planning and execution; skilled in applying project management tools.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams for continuous improvement, 5S initiatives, and FMEA processes.
• Experience with Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Apps; drive for innovation and continuous improvement.

Work Environment

Amphenol CIT is a clean facility, housing different machinery, equipment, processes, and chemicals which produce potential hazards in the work environment such as ergonomic, chemical, machine point of operation, and powered industrial vehicle traffic. These hazards are controlled through engineering controls, such as machine guarding, and administrative controls, such as safety policies and programs. In certain areas of the facility, employees are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment such as Hearing Protection, Safety Glasses, Safety Toe Shoes, and hand protection.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

• ASTM F–2412–2005, ANSI Z41–1999, or ANSI Z41–1991 rated safety toed shoes
• Clear ANSI Z87.1 safety rated glasses
• Hearing protection, in specific locations
• Ability to comply with JSA in specific areas

Environmental Policy

Amphenol CIT is dedicated to identifying and reducing the environmental impact of its operations, activities, and products. It is our commitment to comply with all applicable laws and other regulatory requirements concerning the environment. We are committed to preventing pollution and continually improving our environmental performance in all our global operations, achieved through a comprehensive Environmental Management System.

Export Compliance Disclaimer

This position includes access or potential access to ITAR and/or EAR technical data. Therefore, candidates will need to qualify as a US Person, which is defined as a US Citizen or a Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder).

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of the position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.