New Product Development Engineer

SPI Lighting Inc.; Mequon (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SPI Lighting Inc. is seeking a New Product Engineer to design and engineer premium lighting fixtures for scalable manufacture. You will balance creative form with practical engineering, ensuring designs meet our brand language and performance goals.

You will work across engineering, sales, marketing, and manufacturing to deliver projects on schedule, while preparing BOMs and documentation, and pursuing opportunities for patents where applicable.

Qualifications

• Hands-on engineer who translates ideas into manufacturable designs.
• Proficient in 2D/3D CAD and tolerancing techniques.
• Experience taking product designs from virtual to real world.
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing to enable efficient production.
• Ability to collaborate with engineering, sales, marketing and manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Design new light fixtures using phase-gate process and CAD tools.
• Translate product specs into manufacturable designs.
• Create products aligned with brand visual and functional language.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely project execution.
• Prepare and verify BOMs and documentation for releases.
• Engage with customers and vendors on design and development.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Design for Manufacturing

UL standards knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Inventor

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

About Us:
At SPI Lighting, we design and manufacture high-quality, American-made architectural and performance luminaires. Proudly located on the southwest side of Mequon, we offer a clean and organized work environment where innovation meets craftsmanship. Our company culture is rooted in integrity, growth, and teamwork — and we’re looking for motivated individuals to join us!

About the Role:
SPI is looking for a creative and technically skilled New Product Engineer to join our team at SPI Lighting, a leader in innovative lighting solutions. This role sits at the intersection of design and engineering, ideal for someone who not only understands how things work—but how they should look and feel. Someone who can not only envision compelling new product forms that align with our customers’ needs, but also has the technical expertise to engineer those designs for real-world manufacturing. This role requires a unique balance of creativity and practicality: the ability to translate abstract ideas into beautiful, functional products that are feasible to produce at scale. If you thrive at the intersection of form and function, and you’re passionate about bringing thoughtful, customer-driven products to life, we’d love to talk.

Design is not just how it looks—it's how it works, how it feels, and how it's experienced.

As part of our product development team, you will:

• Design new light fixtures using a phase-gate process and 2D/3D CAD tools.
• Translate product specifications into practical, manufacturable designs.
• Create products that customers request, feel intentional, and align with our brand's visual and functional language.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, sales, marketing, manufacturing) to ensure successful and timely project execution.
• Prepare and verify bills of material (BOMs) and other documentation for product releases.
• Participate in customer and vendor interactions related to product design and development.
• Work with UL standards and certification processes.
• Support the production team by helping resolve technical or assembly-related issues.
• Identify potential opportunities for design or utility patents.
• Maintain a proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement throughout the product lifecycle.

Expected for success:

• A hands-on engineer who takes pride in seeing their new products work efficiently and be aesthetically pleasing in the field
• Must demonstrate strong creative thinking and a consistent ability to approach challenges with innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.
• Proficient in CAD software (AutoCad and Inventor, or equivalent)
• Understands how to take a design from virtual to real world with proper drawing and tolerancing techniques
• Knowledgeable in Design for Manufacturing (DFM) to ensure our assembly team can efficiently produce new products
• A collaborative team player who can also take initiative and work independently.
• Able to take feedback from fellow engineers, manufacturing, suppliers and customers to be always improving
• Able to communicate design intent, written and verbally, to technical and non-technical people
• Understanding that lighting is not just a utility, but an experience

Nice to Have :

• Prior experience with UL certification processes.
• Understanding of commercial architecture or lighting applications.
• Familiarity with sourcing components and vendor coordination.
• Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university related to engineering

Why Join Us:

• Be a part of a company that values innovation, collaboration, and quality.
• Work in a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and creative thinking.