Product Development Engineer

Socket.dev; Kalamazoo (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits from day one

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness programs

Quarterly profit sharing

Paid time off

Job summary

Landscape Forms is seeking a Product Development Engineer (internally titled Product Engineer) to translate design intent into production-ready solutions, guiding concepts through CAD, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing implementation. This role collaborates with Designers, Product Development Engineers, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing to balance function, manufacturability, timing, and cost.

The position supports a design-driven, collaborative environment with a hybrid work setup.

Qualifications

• Strong problem-solving skills to turn ambiguous challenges into practical solutions.
• Collaborative and service-oriented with cross-functional communication.
• Strong project management and organizational abilities to drive milestones.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Curious, adaptable, and motivated to explore new materials and processes.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and develop new products and improvements from concept through CAD development, prototyping, testing, validation, and production implementation.
• Preserve design intent while balancing function, manufacturability, quality, timing, and cost.
• Collaborate with the Development Team on brainstorming, product iteration, experimentation, prototype fabrication, testing, and problem-solving.
• Create engineering drawings, parts, assemblies, models, and specifications using 3D CAD software.
• Evaluate design and manufacturing requirements and propose solutions, test plans, and schedules.
• Partner with Designers, Product Development Engineers, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, and external partners on materials, processes, tooling, and production solutions.
• Apply project management principles to coordinate priorities, milestones, and communication.

Skills

Problem solving

Collaboration

Project management

Communication

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

The Product Development Engineer (titled Internally as Product Engineer) plays an important role in bringing new products and product improvements from concept toward production. This role translates design intent and manufacturing requirements into creative, practical engineering solutions, helping determine how new ideas can be engineered, tested, and ultimately brought into production.

You’ll work closely with Designers, Product Development Engineers, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing throughout the development process. From brainstorming and product iteration to CAD development, prototyping, testing, and production implementation, you’ll help solve complex challenges while balancing design intent, function, manufacturability, timing, and cost.

Who We Are

Landscape Forms is the industry leader in integrated solutions of high-design site furniture and advanced LED lighting. For more than 50 years, we have produced site furnishings that help designers and other clients achieve beautiful, functional environments that enhance the experience of outdoor space. Our secret is simple: Design, Culture, and Craft drive everything we do.

What You Can Expect

Support, stability, and the opportunity to grow within a design-driven, collaborative environment.

Landscape Forms takes pride in offering a competitive benefits package including, but not limited to, insurance benefits available your first day, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, quarterly profit-sharing bonuses, and paid time off.

Location Expectations

This role offers a flexible hybrid work environment, with onsite presence based on team and project needs. Team members are expected to be onsite on Mondays for team meetings, as well as for in-person 1:1s, project meetings, and other cross-functional meetings when requested.

During the first few months, new team members are encouraged to spend more time onsite to support onboarding, relationship-building, and learning the role. Beyond that, onsite needs may vary depending on current projects and collaboration needs. Several members of the team also choose to work onsite regularly or full-time.

How You Contribute

• Engineer and develop new products and product improvements from concept through CAD development, prototyping, testing, validation, and production implementation.
• Apply an iterative, solutions-oriented approach to preserve design intent while balancing function, manufacturability, quality, timing, and cost.
• Collaborate with the Development Team on brainstorming, product iteration, experimentation, prototype fabrication, testing, and problem-solving.
• Create engineering drawings, parts, assemblies, models, and specifications using 3D CAD software.
• Evaluate design and manufacturing requirements and propose product solutions, test plans, schedules, and next steps to keep projects moving forward.
• Partner with Designers, Product Development Engineers, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, and external partners to identify appropriate materials, processes, tooling, and production solutions—including exploring new capabilities when needed.
• Apply project management principles to coordinate priorities, schedules, technical milestones, and project communication.
• Clearly communicate technical information, challenges, trade-offs, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical partners.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, with 5+ years of related engineering experience preferred.
• Experience with SolidWorks CAD software, blueprint reading, GD&T, and precision measuring equipment.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials, including metal fabrication, steel, aluminum, wood, plastics, castings, and composite materials.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a “how can we make this work?” mindset and the ability to turn ambiguous design or manufacturing challenges into practical solutions.
• Collaborative and service-oriented, with the ability to understand design intent, seek input from the right stakeholders, and develop solutions across Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to take ownership, maintain momentum, and adapt as projects and priorities evolve.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Curious, adaptable, and motivated to explore new materials, processes, technologies, and ways of solving problems.

Bring Great Design to Life

If you’re an engineer who enjoys turning ideas into tangible products, solving design and manufacturing challenges, and collaborating across teams to bring great products to life, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.

At Landscape Forms, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside talented designers, engineers, and makers to creatively solve problems and help shape products that enhance outdoor spaces around the world.