Product Development Engineer

Ryan Consulting Group, LLC; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ryan Consulting Group, LLC is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead hardware product development from concept through commercialization. You will own projects, coordinate across engineering and operations, and drive initiatives through a structured product development process.

The role requires hands-on problem solving, strong communication, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 3–5 years in product development, hardware engineering, or technical validation.
• Experience with Stage Gate and/or NPI processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead hardware products through the full lifecycle from concept to market launch.
• Define product requirements, develop project plans, and coordinate across teams.
• Manage progression through Stage Gate and NPI milestones and launches.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and resolve issues to maintain timelines.
• Maintain documentation, issue logs, and release readiness activities.
• Develop and improve hardware development, testing, and release processes.

Skills

Stage Gate

NPI processes

Hardware development

Project management

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead the development and launch of innovative hardware products. In this role, you will oversee projects from initial concept through commercialization, ensuring products meet technical, quality, and business requirements. Success in this position requires strong project ownership, cross-functional collaboration, technical problem-solving, and the ability to drive initiatives through a structured product development process.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Development & Program Management

• Lead assigned hardware products throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept and design through testing, validation, and market launch.
• Define product requirements, develop project plans, and coordinate activities across multiple teams to ensure successful execution.
• Manage progression through Stage Gate and New Product Introduction (NPI) processes, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and launch objectives are achieved.
• Identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and proactively resolve issues to maintain timelines and product quality.
• Maintain project documentation, issue logs, and release readiness activities to support successful product launches.
• Develop and improve processes related to hardware development, testing, product implementation, and release management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with hardware and software engineering teams, suppliers, operations, support organizations, and leadership to drive product development efforts.
• Facilitate communication between stakeholders, providing regular project updates and ensuring alignment on priorities and deliverables.
• Track action items and follow through to ensure tasks are completed on schedule.
• Support alignment between product development activities and the broader product roadmap.

Hardware Testing & Validation

• Create and execute comprehensive test plans for prototypes, pre-production units, and production-ready hardware.
• Conduct functional, performance, reliability, and validation testing to ensure products meet quality and operational requirements.
• Analyze test data, identify root causes of failures, and collaborate with engineering teams to implement corrective actions.
• Support hardware and software integration testing to ensure overall system performance and functionality.

Product Launch & Technical Support

• Provide technical expertise during product deployment and rollout activities.
• Assist with implementation efforts to ensure smooth product integration and a positive customer experience.
• Support troubleshooting and issue resolution during launch and post-launch phases.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of testing activities, development progress, issue resolution, and corrective actions.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and status updates for project stakeholders and leadership.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives to support future product development efforts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in product development, hardware engineering, new product introduction, or technical validation roles.
• Experience working within structured product development frameworks such as Stage Gate and/or NPI processes.
• Strong understanding of hardware systems, product development methodologies, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and hardware/software integration.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, organizational, and project management skills.
• Proven track record of taking ownership of projects and driving deliverables through completion.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.