Product Development Engineer

Newell Brands; Huntersville (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Newell Brands in Huntersville, NC seeks a Product Development Engineer to drive new product development for small kitchen appliances. You will own projects from conception to launch, ensuring cost, performance, and specification targets are met while collaborating with PM, Marketing, Design, Manufacturing, Regulatory, QA, and Supply Chain.

The role requires 2–4 years of related experience, strong problem‑solving and communication skills, and proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks or Creo.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Plastics, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in a related field.
• Strong interpersonal and program management skills to drive the NPD Gate process.
• Proficiency in problem solving, organization, planning, prioritization, multitasking, and risk mitigation.
• Experience in prototyping, design validation, and testing.
• Proficiency in 3‑D CAD and reviewing 3‑D models and 2‑D drawings.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes for small household appliances.

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering efforts on NPD projects from conception through production launch.
• Ensure appliance meets cost, technical, and performance specifications.
• Collaborate with PM, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Regulatory, QA, and Supply Chain.
• Lead DFMEA, DVP&R, and Quality Specification development.
• Create test plans and validate designs with internal or external labs.
• Review drawings and CAD; lead cross‑functional design reviews.
• Review PPAP activities and implement design or process changes.
• Benchmark competitors and identify design alternatives.
• Participate on cross‑functional teams to resolve complex issues and drive improvements.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Plastics, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Microsoft Office

Job description

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands such as Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie®, and Yankee Candle®, and employs 24,000 talented teammates worldwide. The Product Development Engineer will work on new product development (NPD) projects for small household appliances within a cross‑functional team.

This Position Will Include The Following Activities

• Own the engineering efforts on NPD projects from conception through production launch, following Newell Brands Product Development Process
• Ensure the kitchen appliance meets or exceeds expectations for cost, technical execution, specification development, and product performance
• Collaborate effectively with Program Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Quality, and Supply Chain disciplines
• Demonstrate technical expertise, root cause analysis, problem solving, and judgment in evaluating complex issues and developing innovative solutions
• Work independently and in a collaborative team atmosphere
• Exhibit motivation, urgency, ownership of technical deliverables, accountability, and a positive team environment
• Travel for business and attend periodic meetings outside normal business hours

Job Responsibilities

• Contribute to innovative product development that meets customer expectations, quality, financial, compliance, industry, and government standards
• Support multiple product development projects using a Stage/Gate process, defining timelines and milestones, and ensuring on‑time, on‑cost, and on‑quality delivery
• Understand consumer needs, observe product usage, and translate preferences into technical specifications
• Generate Engineering Product Specifications, lead DFMEA, DVP&R, and Quality Specification development
• Create test plans and collaborate with internal or external labs to validate design goals
• Draft and review Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and complete related tasks
• Review drawings and CAD, lead cross‑functional design and technical reviews
• Conduct IP searches and collaborate with legal on clearance and patent filing
• Review manufacturing trials, testing, measurements, and documentation from tooling through production qualification (PPAP); evaluate results and propose design or process changes
• Benchmark competitive products and identify design alternatives
• Assess safety, manufacturability, reliability, and other best practices with the cross‑functional team
• Complete technical reviews of product complaints and provide support to resolve issues
• Identify opportunities to improve product design or performance and implement changes across product lines
• Participate on cross‑functional teams to resolve complex technical issues, implement large‑scale improvements, or achieve cost reductions
• Communicate effectively, expressing ideas precisely and persuasively
• Select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, for product design

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Plastics, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field
• 2–4 years of experience in a related field
• Strong interpersonal and program management skills, able to facilitate projects through the NPD Gate process
• Proficiency in problem solving, organization, planning, prioritization, multitasking, and risk evaluation/mitigation
• Experience in prototyping, design validation, and testing
• Basic competency in 3‑D CAD (SolidWorks or Creo preferred), reviewing 3‑D models and 2‑D drawings
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes for small household appliances
• Excellent communication skills—verbal and written
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in consumer products
• Experience with electro‑mechanical devices

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.