Product Engineer

The Planet Group; Illinois; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Planet Group is seeking a New Product Engineer to lead the engineering development of commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept to launch. You will work cross-functionally with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to deliver products that meet customer needs, regulations, and company growth goals.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with product development experience, strong project management skills, and a passion

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 3–8 years of experience in product design or new product development, preferably within the commercial Food & Beverage equipment industry.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software.
• Knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding, castings, plastics, electrical components, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Experience creating engineering documentation including BOMs, engineering change orders (ECOs), and technical specifications.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and project management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering efforts for new product development projects from concept through commercial launch.
• Collaborate with Product Management to translate Voice of Customer (VOC) into product requirements and engineering specifications.
• Design and develop commercial food service equipment using sound engineering principles focused on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documentation.
• Develop and evaluate prototypes through laboratory and field testing.
• Conduct design reviews, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and risk assessments throughout the development process.
• Manage engineering timelines and deliverables to support new product launch schedules.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure products are optimized for efficient production and assembly.
• Work with Supply Chain to identify and qualify components and suppliers while driving cost reduction initiatives.
• Support product validation, certification, and compliance with applicable UL, NSF, DOE, EPA, CSA, CE, and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
• Coordinate engineering changes and product improvements after launch based on customer feedback and field performance.
• Participate in value engineering projects to improve product quality, reliability, and profitability.
• Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Manufacturing teams.

Skills

SolidWorks

3D CAD

DFM

DFA

Project management

Analytical skills

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

PLM systems

ERP systems

Job description

The New Product Engineer is responsible for leading the engineering development of innovative commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept through product launch. This role works cross-functionally with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to develop products that meet customer needs, industry regulations, and company growth objectives.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with experience in product development, strong project management skills, and a passion for bringing innovative products to market.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering efforts for new product development projects from concept through commercial launch.
• Collaborate with Product Management to translate Voice of Customer (VOC) into product requirements and engineering specifications.
• Design and develop commercial food service equipment using sound engineering principles focused on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documentation.
• Develop and evaluate prototypes through laboratory and field testing.
• Conduct design reviews, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and risk assessments throughout the development process.
• Manage engineering timelines and deliverables to support new product launch schedules.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure products are optimized for efficient production and assembly.
• Work with Supply Chain to identify and qualify components and suppliers while driving cost reduction initiatives.
• Support product validation, certification, and compliance with applicable UL, NSF, DOE, EPA, CSA, CE, and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
• Coordinate engineering changes and product improvements after launch based on customer feedback and field performance.
• Participate in value engineering projects to improve product quality, reliability, and profitability.
• Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 3–8 years of experience in product design or new product development, preferably within the commercial Food & Beverage equipment industry.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software.
• Knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding, castings, plastics, electrical components, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Experience creating engineering documentation including BOMs, engineering change orders (ECOs), and technical specifications.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and project management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing cooking, holding, refrigeration, beverage, or countertop foodservice equipment.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems, controls, gas systems, refrigeration systems, or thermal engineering.
• Experience with stage-gate product development processes.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• New Product Development (NPD)
• Mechanical Design
• Project Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Customer Focus
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
• Problem Solving
• Cost Optimization

Success Measures

• Successfully launch new products on schedule and within budget.
• Deliver products that meet customer expectations for performance, quality, and reliability.
• Improve time-to-market through effective project management and collaboration.
• Reduce manufacturing costs through value engineering and design optimization.
• Support company growth by developing innovative products that expand market share and strengthen the product portfolio.