Product Development Engineer

HSM (Hickory Springs Manufacturing) Company; Huntersville (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

401(k) match

Paid Time Off

On-Site Medical Clinics

Teladoc

Job summary

HSM (Hickory Springs Manufacturing) is seeking an accomplished Design Engineer to drive product development from concept through launch, creating 3D CAD models, drawings, and BOMs while ensuring manufacturability and cost targets.

You will collaborate with customers and suppliers, lead APQP activities, support prototypes and validation, and contribute to continuous improvement and innovation across manufacturing programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years in product development or manufacturing engineering; 7+ preferred.
• Experience leading new products from concept to production launch.
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Experience with prototype development, pilot production, and first-article inspections.
• Familiarity with APQP tools and methodologies (DFMEA, PFMEA, PPAP).
• Strong CAD skills with SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, Autodesk Inventor, or AutoCAD.
• Ability to interpret drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and manufacturing docs.
• Experience collaborating with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop components, assemblies, and engineered products.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and documentation.
• Develop prototypes using additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
• Translate requirements into manufacturable, cost-effective designs.
• Apply DFM, DFA, and DFC principles.
• Select materials and manufacturing methods per requirements.
• Manage engineering changes and configuration‑controlled docs.
• Lead product development from concept to production launch.
• Collaborate with customers, tooling and material suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
• Lead continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.

Skills

SolidWorks

Creo

CATIA

Autodesk Inventor

AutoCAD

GD&T

APQP

PPAP

Project Management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

ERP systems (JD Edwards)

PLM systems

Job description

Founded in 1944, HSM is a third‑generation, privately held company with a rich history of innovation and a commitment to our people. With 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC, we specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries. Our expertise also includes designing and building automated production machinery. HSM products from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats touch everyday life in countless ways.

At HSM, our success is built on our people. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success. If you’re looking for a meaningful place to grow and make an impact, we want to hear from you!

What You Will Do

• Product Design and Development
  • Design and develop components, assemblies, and engineered product solutions.
  • Create and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and other technical documentation.
  • Develop functional prototypes using additive manufacturing and 3D‑printing technologies.
  • Translate customer and business requirements into practical, manufacturable, and cost‑effective designs.
  • Apply Design for Manufacturability, Design for Assembly, and Design for Cost principles.
  • Select appropriate materials, finishes, and manufacturing methods based on product requirements and production capabilities.
  • Manage engineering changes, product revisions, and configuration‑controlled documentation.
• Product Validation and Launch
  • Lead assigned product‑development activities from initial concept through prototyping, validation, production launch, and ongoing support.
  • Partner with Process Engineering to optimize designs for tooling capability, process repeatability, manufacturability, and long‑term production stability.
  • Support prototype builds, validation testing, first‑article inspections, pilot production, and production‑readiness activities.
  • Participate in APQP activities, including design reviews, DFMEAs, PFMEAs, Control Plans, PPAP documentation, and launch‑readiness reviews.
  • Evaluate product performance through testing, capability studies, validation activities, and customer feedback.
• Customer, Supplier, and Team Collaboration
  • Serve as the primary engineering contact for assigned products.
  • Collaborate with customers, tooling suppliers, material suppliers, and manufacturing partners to develop robust production solutions.
  • Participate in technical meetings, supplier evaluations, design reviews, and engineering‑change discussions.
  • Resolve technical and supplier‑related concerns through engineering analysis, root‑cause identification, and corrective action.
  • Communicate technical information clearly to customers, suppliers, leadership, and cross‑functional teams.
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation
  • Lead improvement initiatives focused on product performance, quality, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and customer satisfaction.
  • Identify opportunities for material optimization, tooling enhancements, value engineering, and manufacturing efficiencies.
  • Research emerging materials, additive‑manufacturing methods, production technologies, and engineering best practices.
  • Recommend solutions that improve functionality, sustainability, quality, and overall customer value.
  • Support advanced product‑development initiatives, technology roadmaps, and new business opportunities.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• At least five years of engineering experience in product development, manufacturing engineering, or new product development within a manufacturing environment; seven or more years preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading new products from concept through validation and production launch.
• Experience managing multiple engineering projects and competing priorities.
• Experience supporting prototype development, pilot production, first‑article inspections, design validation, and production launches.
• Working knowledge of APQP tools and methodologies, including design reviews, DFMEA, PFMEA, Process Flow Diagrams, Control Plans, and PPAP.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, or comparable 3D CAD software.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, tolerance stack‑ups, and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience collaborating with customers, suppliers, tooling partners, manufacturing teams, and cross‑functional leadership.
• Strong analytical, communication, project‑management, and technical problem‑solving skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within automotive, commercial vehicle, transportation, recreational vehicle, specialty vehicle, engineered‑products, or Tier 1 supplier environments.
• Surface modeling or surfacing‑design experience.
• Experience preparing CAD models for additive manufacturing, prototype fabrication, tooling development, and production.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and customer‑specific automotive requirements.
• Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, MSA, SPC, process capability, and related quality methodologies.
• Experience using 8D, Five Why, Fishbone, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and VAVE methodologies.
• Experience with ERP and PLM systems; JD Edwards and Minitab experience is a plus.

Travel

This position requires the ability to travel up to 25% to support customer meetings, supplier development, tooling trials, prototype builds, validation activities, production launches, and HSM manufacturing facilities.

Why Join Us?

• Health & Wellness: Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants.
• Retire: 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one.
• Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO: 3 Weeks of PTO + company paid holidays.
• On‑Site Medical Clinics: Free for you and covered dependents.
• Teladoc: 24/7 access with no copay.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement, professional development assistance and career growth opportunities.
• Discounts: Enjoy discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort, Verizon Wireless, and more.

EEOC

At HSM, we believe that our diversity creates a productive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectionate or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.