Product Engineer

Acara Solutions, Inc.; Fremont (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Acara Solutions is seeking a senior product/materials engineer to lead development from concept through deployment, coordinating global supplier engagement and cross-functional teams. You will shape designs, qualification plans, and field support strategies to ensure robust product launches.

The role emphasizes advanced materials characterization, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations, with a strong need for collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and supplier networks to

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product engineering, materials engineering, or a related field with a Master’s; or 5+ years with a PhD.
• 5+ years leading new product introduction, product qualification, supplier development, or PLM.
• 5+ years designing experiments, engineering studies, and validation testing.
• 3+ years of failure analysis and root-cause investigations using materials characterization.
• 3+ years collaborating with suppliers, manufacturing, quality, and engineering stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development projects from prototype through qualification, release, deployment, and initial field support.
• Drive supplier qualification activities, quality plans, production readiness, and process development across a global supplier network.
• Design and execute experiments, testing protocols, and validation plans to resolve complex technical issues.
• Perform failure analysis and root cause investigations using advanced materials characterization techniques.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supplier development, and field support teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Provide technical support for installation, troubleshooting, repair, debugging, and field performance issues.
• Present technical findings, analyses, recommendations, and project updates to stakeholders and leadership

Skills

Product engineering

Materials engineering

NPI

Experiment design

Failure analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Technical communication

Executive presentation

Stakeholder influence

Education

Master's degree or PhD in a related field

Tools

DOE

JMP

Minitab

Gage R&R

Process capability

Job description

Why You\'ll Love Working Here:

• Lead high-impact product development initiatives with global supplier and engineering teams.
• Work on cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative and innovation-driven environment.
• Influence product design, manufacturing processes, quality systems, and supplier performance.
• Apply advanced materials science, engineering, and failure analysis expertise to solve complex technical challenges.

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

This role offers a rare opportunity to combine product engineering, materials science, supplier development, and advanced failure analysis in one position. You\'ll play a critical role in bringing new products from concept to deployment while driving technical excellence across a global supplier network.

About Acara Solutions

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

What You\'ll Do:

• Lead product development projects from prototype through qualification, release, deployment, and initial field support.
• Drive supplier qualification activities, quality plans, production readiness, and process development across a global supplier network.
• Design and execute experiments, testing protocols, and validation plans to resolve complex technical issues.
• Perform failure analysis and root cause investigations using advanced materials characterization techniques.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supplier development, and field support teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Provide technical support for installation, troubleshooting, repair, debugging, and field performance issues.
• Present technical findings, analyses, recommendations, and project updates to stakeholders and leadership

Job Requirements

What You\'ll Bring:

• 8+ years of experience in product engineering, materials engineering, process development, supplier engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field with a Master\'s degree; or 5+ years of experience with a Ph.D.
• 5+ years of experience leading new product introduction (NPI), product qualification, supplier development, or product lifecycle management initiatives.
• 5+ years of experience designing and conducting experiments, engineering studies, and technical validation testing.
• 3+ years of experience performing failure analysis and root cause investigations using materials characterization techniques.
• 3+ years of experience collaborating with suppliers, manufacturing teams, quality organizations, and engineering stakeholders.
• Master\'s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Chemistry, or a related field; or Ph.D. with applicable industry experience.

What Sets You Apart:

• Experience using advanced materials characterization tools and techniques including:
  • Microscopy
  • Spectroscopy
  • Thermal analysis
  • Mechanical testing and analysis
  • Surface characterization methods
• Experience in plastics fabrication and manufacturing processes such as:
  • Injection molding
  • Machining
  • Welding
  • Thermoforming
  • Additive manufacturing
• Knowledge of statistical methods and quality tools including:
  • Design of Experiments (DOE)
  • Gage R\'R
  • Process Capability Analysis (Cpk/Ppk)
  • JMP
  • Minitab
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams consisting of product engineering, manufacturing, supplier quality, field support, and supplier partners.
• Exceptional analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong technical communication and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple teams, cultures, and geographic regions.
• Creative thinker with a resilient, solution-oriented approach to complex engineering challenges.

Additional Information:

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check.
• Overtime: May be required based on project milestones, supplier support needs, and business objectives.
• Schedule: Hybrid/Flexible schedule with approximately 3 days per week onsite, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PST.
• Work Environment: Engineering, laboratory, supplier, and manufacturing support environment.
• Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.