Product Development Engineer

000305 Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership; Arkansas; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership in the United States seeks a Mechanical Engineer to design product solutions within an approved framework, coordinate development activities, and ensure performance across materials, manufacturing, and cost.

You will conduct design investigations, apply FEA/DFMEA/DFSS, prepare drawings with GD&T, and support APQP/PPAP and production readiness while collaborating closely with customers and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in product design or development, automotive focus preferred.
• Ability to conceptualize mechanical components, assemblies, and interactions.
• Knowledge of machine dynamics, strength, fluids, heat transfer, materials, wear, dimensions, weight, and service life considerations.
• Experience with polymers and related manufacturing processes is a plus.
• Ability to prepare and check engineering drawings and data records with GD&T.
• Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, DV testing, and product validation processes.

Responsibilities

• Design product solutions within the approved framework and coordinate development activities.
• Modify existing designs to meet evolving requirements and ensure manufacturability.
• Support product launches through prototyping, testing, and production readiness.
• Provide technical leadership and collaborate with customers and suppliers.
• Perform design verification, analysis, and documentation.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Product design

Cross-functional collaboration

GD&T

3D CAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (preferred)

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

SolidWorks

Solid Edge

Siemens NX

CATIA

FEA tools

DFMEA/DFSS/DFM/DFA

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world!

Responsibilities

Design product solutions within the approved framework and coordinate development activities Modify existing designs and components to meet evolving product performance and application requirements Manage assembly functionality and installation requirements while balancing project timelines and future product development needs Develop and evaluate product concepts considering functional, material, manufacturing, and cost requirements Conduct design investigations considering functionality, packaging, materials, manufacturability, and overall product performance Check drawings and data records for accuracy, completeness, and proper documentation Perform simulations and engineering calculations for strength, service life, wear, dimensions, weight, and other applicable design factors Evaluate benchmarking tests and apply findings to product concepts and development decisions Conduct design verification and analysis, validation testing, return investigations, and product and process improvement projects Apply analytical tools such as FEA, DFMEA, DFSS, and DFM/DFA to assess risk and optimize product designs Develop creative concepts, evaluate technical feasibility, and conduct risk assessments for new or modified products and processes Prepare product development design packages for new or modified products Design, prototype, and assemble new or modified mechanical components for development and testing activities Analyze test results against design specifications and test objectives, and document conclusions Support product launches through design, prototyping, testing, APQP, PPAP, and production readiness activities Provide technical leadership and support to customers, suppliers, commercial teams, and other internal functions Work directly with customer product development teams to address technical requirements and development priorities Analyze components returned by customers, identify the root causes of failures, and prepare technical reports for internal and external customers Support resolution of product and process quality concerns through structured problem-solving methods Participate in GROWTTH and Lean activities, including Kaizen events, 5S activities, value analysis and value engineering initiatives, and program management workshops Prepare and present technical presentations, proposals, and reports with supporting data for internal and external audiences Manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting agreed deadlines Travel to customers, suppliers, and other FNST facilities as required Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field required Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or another technical field preferred Product design or product development experience required; automotive product development experience preferred Ability to conceptualize mechanical components, assemblies, and component interactions Knowledge of machine dynamics, strength requirements, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, materials, wear, dimensions, weight, and service life considerations Experience designing products with rubber, thermoplastics, thermosets, composites, or related polymer materials, including knowledge of associated manufacturing processes, preferred Ability to assess manufacturing feasibility based on process knowledge and economic considerations Ability to prepare and check engineering drawings and data records, including the application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) Experience using 3D CAD software such as Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Siemens NX (UG), CATIA, or similar programs to create and modify product designs, assemblies, and engineering drawings preferred Knowledge of engineering tools such as finite element analysis (FEA), Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFM/DFA) Knowledge of automotive product development processes, including Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Design Verification (DV) testing, Product Validation (PV) processes, and customer-specific requirements preferred Strong written, verbal, presentation, and technical communication skills Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, cross-functional team environment Ability to work independently, manage conflicting priorities, and meet deadlines Ability to make sound decisions, influence key stakeholders, and adapt to change and ambiguity Creative, organized, data-driven, and proactive approach to problem-solving Ability to work overtime as business needs require and travel to customers, suppliers, and other FNST facilities Communication & Collaboration: Communicates clearly and concisely, while engaging proactively with colleagues at all levels of the organization. Value for Customers: Anticipates, understands and meets internal/external customers’ needs and expectations. Develops solutions based on a customer centric approach. Innovation: Drives and supports innovative ideas, while taking informed risks to seek and develop new or improved solutions. Drive & Execution: Proactively identifies what needs to be done and takes action. Explores new ways and pursues new opportunities.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership Welcome to Freudenberg Without Freudenberg, indoor air would not be as clean, cars would not drive and wounds would not heal as quickly. And these are just three examples from thousands of our applications. Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 51,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.