Product Design Engineer

Planet Group; Batavia (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Group is seeking a Product Design Engineer to lead the engineering development of innovative commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept through product launch. The role collaborates with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to meet customer needs and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will be hands-on with product development experience, strong project management skills, and a passion for bringing innovative

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3-8 years of experience in product design or new product development in the commercial Food & Beverage equipment industry is preferred.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software.
• Strong knowledge of DFM and DFA.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering efforts from concept through commercial launch.
• Translate VOC into product requirements and specifications.
• Design and develop commercial food service equipment with focus on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Create 3D CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and documentation.
• Develop prototypes and validate through tests and field trials.
• Conduct DFMEA and risk assessments throughout development.

Skills

Project management

Mechanical design

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Product Design Engineer

New Product Engineer

Position Summary

The New Product Engineer is responsible for leading the engineering development of innovative commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept through product launch. This role works cross-functionally with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to develop products that meet customer needs, industry regulations, and company growth objectives.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on engineer with experience in product development, strong project management skills, and a passion for bringing innovative products to market.

Compensation will be based upon experience: 110K-150K plus bonus

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering efforts for new product development projects from concept through commercial launch.
• Collaborate with Product Management to translate Voice of Customer (VOC) into product requirements and engineering specifications.
• Design and develop commercial food service equipment using sound engineering principles focused on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documentation.
• Develop and evaluate prototypes through laboratory and field testing.
• Conduct design reviews, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and risk assessments throughout the development process.
• Manage engineering timelines and deliverables to support new product launch schedules.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure products are optimized for efficient production and assembly.
• Work with Supply Chain to identify and qualify components and suppliers while driving cost reduction initiatives.
• Support product validation, certification, and compliance with applicable UL, NSF, DOE, EPA, CSA, CE, and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
• Coordinate engineering changes and product improvements after launch based on customer feedback and field performance.
• Participate in value engineering projects to improve product quality, reliability, and profitability.
• Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 3-8 years of experience in product design or new product development, preferably within the commercial Food & Beverage equipment industry.
• Experience managing multiple product development projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software.
• Knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding, castings, plastics, electrical components, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Experience creating engineering documentation including BOMs, engineering change orders (ECOs), and technical specifications.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and project management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing cooking, holding, refrigeration, beverage, or countertop foodservice equipment.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems, controls, gas systems, refrigeration systems, or thermal engineering.
• Experience with stage-gate product development processes.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

Key Competencies

• Product Innovation
• New Product Development (NPD)
• Mechanical Design
• Project Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Customer Focus
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
• Problem Solving
• Continuous Improvement
• Cost Optimization

Success Measures

• Successfully launch new products on schedule and within budget.
• Deliver products that meet customer expectations for performance, quality, and reliability.
• Improve time-to-market through effective project management and collaboration.
• Reduce manufacturing costs through value engineering and design optimization.
• Support company growth by developing innovative products that expand market share and strengthen the product portfolio.