Product Development and Design Engineer (On-Site)

Gopher Sport; Owatonna (MN); On-site; USD 63,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

3 weeks PTO

Job summary

Gopher Sport is seeking a Product Design Engineer to design and develop manufacturable products for teachers, coaches and kids. You will transform concepts into robust designs, create CAD models, prototypes, and detailed drawings while accounting for materials, costs and production methods.

This full-time, in-person role is based in Owatonna, MN, with a focus on rapid prototyping, testing, and collaboration across teams to deliver high-quality products for millions of users.

Qualifications

• 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design / Product Design / Mechanical Engineering.
• 3+ yrs experience in Industrial Design / Product Development.
• SolidWorks proficiency; including technical drawings and 3D modeling.

Responsibilities

• Create designs that satisfy performance, appearance, design, functionality, quality and cost requirements.
• Provide design options with alternative solutions.
• Create designs that are manufacturable.
• Recommend ideas for design modifications to improve performance, appearance, design, functionality, quality, or cost.
• Troubleshoot and modify existing designs to solve manufacturability, cost or other obstacles.
• Improve design for durability, appearance, manufacturability, quality and cost.
• Confirm product specifications, BOMs, product descriptions and presentations are correct.
• Move assigned product projects through the design stages, meeting deadlines.
• Create technical drawings and product specification documents for manufacturing.

Skills

SolidWorks

3D modeling

Prototype testing

Materials knowledge

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design

Product Design

Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Maker-space equipment

CAD software

Job description

Description

Gopher Sport is looking for a passionate, creative, and technically skilled Product Design Engineer to join our team and help bring innovative, manufacturable products to life.

Who we are:

Gopher Sport is an industry-leading inventor and seller of high-quality, innovative products used by teachers, coaches and kids for physical education, athletics, fitness and recreation.

Our mission

is “To help teachers and coaches show kids how to have fun and be healthier through physical activity”. Started in 1947, we are committed to giving our customers innovative, high-quality products; fast, friendly, easy, right service; and an unconditional satisfaction guarantee.

Our Values:

We create delighted fans

We are one dependable and trustworthy team

We are passionate about quality and excellence

We move fast to innovate, simplify, and improve

Description

You will design new products and improve existing ones, transforming concepts into manufacturable solutions used by millions worldwide.

You will brainstorm design solutions, prototype physical models and proof of concepts, create CAD models and renders, define colors, materials and manufacturing processes, understand cost and vendor constraints, turn CAD models into technical drawings, review samples and troubleshoot quality issues, and develop engineered solutions for part connections, tolerancing, and manufacturing methods to ensure reliable assembly and production.

This is a full time, in-person position in Owatonna, MN.

What will you be doing?

1. Create designs that satisfy the product’s performance, appearance, design, functionality, quality and cost requirements.

2. Provide design options with alternative solutions.

3. Create designs that are manufacturable.

4. Recommend ideas for design modifications to improve the performance, appearance, design, functionality, quality, or cost of each product.

5. Troubleshoot and modify existing designs in order to solve manufacturability, cost or other obstacles.

6. Improve design for improved durability, appearance, manufacturability, quality and cost.

7. Confirm product specifications, BOM’s, product descriptions and presentations are correct.

8. Research patents in concept phase. Create patentable ideas. Avoid infringement.

9. Move assigned product projects through the design stages, meeting or exceeding deadlines.

10. Create technical drawings and product specification documents for manufacturing, following company standard processes.

11. Update and correct any product designs or technical or manufacturing specifications that change or are incorrect.

12. Store working and completed design and specification files according to department processes.

13. Collaborate with others internally or externally on complex designs and diverse product categories.

14. Assist in the completion of customer-facing product use and product assembly instructions.

15. Assist in other activities associated with receiving and confirming prototypes, samples, first shipments, quality issues, returns, etc.

16. Build physical proof of concept prototypes for product projects as needed or directed.

17. Maintain lab tools and machines, including required maintenance and supplies, as well as make determinations on additional tools to expand prototyping capabilities.

18. Oversee material management and ordering, ensuring necessary materials are stocked and available for prototype building.

Keep lab up to safety standards, clean and organized.

Requirements

4 year Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design / Product Design / Mechanical Engineering

3+ yrs experience in Industrial Design / Product Development

SolidWorks proficiency; including technical drawings and 3D modeling

Advanced understanding of materials and manufacturing

Hands-on experience building and testing early-stage prototypes using diverse materials, tools, and maker-space equipment

Ability to balance multiple priorities and adapt quickly

Why join our Team?

You'll get satisfaction knowing you're helping millions of kids around the world have fun and become more active and healthy. Plus, you'll get a competitive compensation and benefit package, including traditional and HSA Health Insurance options, Vision, 3 weeks of Paid Time Off accrued the first year, 3 weeks of remote work flexible hours, 8 company paid holidays, profit sharing, 401K, a Lifestyle Spending Account, tuition reimbursement, product discounts, an onsite fitness center and so much more!

Salary Range is $63,300 to $88,300