Product Development Engineer

Timberline Manufacturing; Marion (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-owned since 2012

Job summary

Timberline Manufacturing, an employee-owned contract manufacturer, is seeking a Product Development Engineer (Form, Fit, and Function Owner) to own all aspects of product design. You will develop, release, and maintain specifications, drawings, and models to ensure performance, manufacturability, cost targets, and lifecycle needs.

You will drive changes that affect the product and collaborate with Production Support and Quality to implement designs into manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required.
• Experience in product design and development with CAD proficiency.
• Strong problem solving, analytical, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own product design, including geometry, dimensions, tolerances, materials, and performance specifications.
• Create and revise CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, and documentation.
• Lead engineering changes that impact the product (dimensional changes, material changes, performance improvements).
• Conduct design analyses: tolerance stack-ups, stress/thermal analysis, material studies, etc.
• Develop and execute prototype builds, validation testing, and product qualification.
• Investigate product-related quality issues tied to design and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Product design

CAD proficiency

DFM/ DFA knowledge

Engineering collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related)

Tools

CAD software

Job description

BECOME AN OWNER, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND BUILD FRIENDSHIPS

Who We Are

Founded in 1993, Timberline Manufacturing provides electrical contract manufacturing with a specialization in wire harness assembly, control panels, and electronic assembly. Timberline is 100% employee-owned since 2012. Along with employee ownership, we provide opportunities for advancement, professional growth and financial rewards. From the moment you enter the building, we greet you as a person, not a number.

What We Value

We're not the first to say it, but we certainly mean it - our employees are what makes Timberline so great. That's why we're an employee-owned company.

Product Development Engineer (Form, Fit, and Function Owner)

Description

The Product Development Engineer owns all aspects of product design, including form, fit, and function. This role develops, releases, and maintains product specifications, drawings, and models, ensuring that all design decisions support performance requirements, manufacturability, cost targets, and lifecycle needs. This engineer is the authority on what the product is and drives any changes that affect the product itself.

Responsibilities

• Own product design, including geometry, dimensions, tolerances, materials, and performance specifications.
• Create and revise CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, and documentation.
• Lead engineering changes that impact the product (dimensional changes, material changes, performance improvements).
• Conduct design analyses: tolerance stack-ups, stress/thermal analysis, material studies, etc.
• Develop and execute prototype builds, validation testing, and product qualification.
• Investigate product-related quality issues and customer complaints where root cause is tied to design.
• Collaborate with Production Support on implementation of design changes into manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate manufacturability of designs and provide guidance during new machine or tooling introductions.
• Support cost-reduction initiatives that modify product specifications or design intent.
• Maintain product lifecycle control: document revisions, release processes, change notifications.
• Ticket Ownership Design Engineering owns tickets involving:
• Dimensional changes
• Material changes
• Product performance or functional requirements
• New part creation or BOM updates
• Design corrective actions
• Prototype or validation work
• Anything that triggers a new drawing, new geometrics, or altered form/fit/function

• Cross-functional Support Production Support, Quality, and Suppliers - but retains final authority on product design.

• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned

Requirements

• Must have a positive attitude with a customer appreciation mentality
• Must have strong communication skills to communicate with other team members
• Basic math and computer skills
• Highly organized with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Must have a positive attitude with a customer appreciation mentality
• Ability to lift 50lbs as needed
• Ability to stand, sit, and perform repetitive work for long periods of time
• Attention to detail with the ability to problem solve
• Operate with a sense of teamwork
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related field).
• Experience in product design and development, including CAD proficiency.
• Strong problem‑solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of DFM/DFA principles and materials/manufacturing processes.

Timberline Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.