Product Engineer - R&D

Reflector Entertainment Ltd.; Spirit Lake (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Pure Fishing in Spirit Lake, Iowa, seeks a hands‑on Product Development Engineer to take fishing line concepts through testing, scale‑up, and manufacturing transfer. You will collaborate with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Sourcing to optimize processes and ensure products meet performance and quality targets.

The role emphasizes DOE and statistical methods to establish specifications, with on‑site work and domestic travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience with Design of Experiments (DOE), statistics, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to translate data into practical engineering decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative product concepts and engineering solutions addressing consumer needs and business objectives.
• Plan, execute, and coordinate engineering activities for development and commercialization of fishing line products.
• Support development of Nylon, Fluorocarbon, and Superline products from concept to production.

Skills

DOE

Statistics

Data analysis

Analytical thinking

Excel

Cross‑functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field

Job description

Product Engineer – Fishing Line

Ready to combine engineering, innovation, and a passion for creating great products? Join Pure Fishing as a Product Engineer – Fishing Line and help develop the products that anglers around the world rely on.

In this role, you will work alongside R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and other teams to take new ideas from concept to production. If you enjoy solving problems, experimenting with new technologies, and seeing your ideas come to life, this could be a great catch!

What Will You Do?

We are seeking a hands‑on Product Development Engineer to join our team on‑site in Spirit Lake, Iowa and support the development, optimization, and commercialization of innovative fishing line products. This role will be responsible for taking products from concept and development through testing, process optimization, scale‑up, and successful transition into manufacturing.

The ideal candidate combines strong engineering fundamentals with practical problem‑solving skills and an interest in polymers, materials, manufacturing processes, and product performance. This position will work closely with Research & Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and external suppliers to develop products that meet performance, quality, reliability, manufacturability, and consumer requirements.

A key responsibility of this role is using Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and engineering principles to optimize product and process parameters and establish robust manufacturing conditions.

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop innovative product concepts and engineering solutions that address consumer needs, product requirements, and business objectives.
• Plan, execute, and coordinate engineering activities associated with the development and commercialization of fishing line products.
• Support the development of Nylon, Fluorocarbon, and Superline products from early‑stage concepts through commercialization and production.
• Evaluate product designs, prototypes, samples, and production trials for performance, reliability, quality, and manufacturability.
• Design and execute Design of Experiments (DOE) to identify critical product and process variables and optimize performance.
• Apply statistical analysis and engineering methods to establish product specifications, process parameters, measurement systems, and performance metrics.
• Support process development, scale‑up, and manufacturing trials to ensure products can be produced consistently and efficiently.
• Serve as a key technical liaison between R&D and Manufacturing, helping move developing products through the MTOP process and into production.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and other cross‑functional teams to identify and resolve technical issues during development and commercialization.
• Research and evaluate new technologies, materials, coatings, processes, and manufacturing methods that could improve product performance or create new product opportunities.
• Work with domestic and international suppliers to communicate technical requirements, evaluate materials and processes, and support the transfer of product specifications.
• Analyze project results, communicate findings, make technical recommendations, and drive projects toward completion.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry developments relevant to polymers, fibers, coatings, and fishing line performance.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed to support development projects, suppliers, testing, and manufacturing activities.

What Makes You a Great Catch?

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technical Science, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 2+ years of experience in engineering, product development, process development, manufacturing, materials, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience with Design of Experiments (DOE), statistics, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to translate data into practical engineering decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
• Willingness and ability to work on‑site in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Why You’ll Love It Here:

Great people, exciting products, fantastic benefits, and competitive pay – what’s not to love?

You’ll have the opportunity to work where engineering meets the outdoors, helping develop fishing products used by anglers around the world.

Your Work Environment:

A collaborative, hands‑on R&D and manufacturing environment where you’ll have the opportunity to take ideas from concept and experimentation all the way through production.

No two projects are exactly alike, giving you plenty of opportunities to learn, innovate, solve problems, and make an impact.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

In this role, success means taking ownership of technical problems and development projects from concept through production. You will use engineering judgment, experimentation, and data to develop products that perform exceptionally well while also being reliable, manufacturable, and commercially viable.

The successful candidate will be someone who is curious, hands‑on, analytical, and driven to solve problems. You should enjoy working with both data and physical products, be comfortable collaborating across departments, and have the creativity to explore new materials, technologies, and processes.

Core Competencies:

• Technical Problem Solving: Uses engineering principles, data, and sound judgment to solve moderately complex technical problems.
• Innovation: Generates new ideas and explores technologies, materials, and processes that can improve products and manufacturing.
• Analytical Thinking: Effectively applies statistics, DOE, experimentation, and data analysis to make engineering decisions.
• Project Management: Organizes and prioritizes multiple projects while maintaining accountability for deadlines and deliverables.
• Collaboration: Builds effective working relationships with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Communication: Clearly communicates technical information, project status, findings, and recommendations to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Sense of Urgency: Takes initiative, follows through on commitments, and works with a strong focus on timely and accurate execution.
• Continuous Improvement: Looks for opportunities to improve products, processes, specifications, and manufacturing performance.

Ready to engineer your next big catch? Join Pure Fishing and help us continue creating innovative products that make time on the water even better!