Product Engineer - Sustaining

Old World Industries; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Company-matching 401(k)

Life insurance

Disability

Paid time off and holidays

Additional benefits: EAP, pet & legal,

Job summary

Old World Industries, Northbrook, IL, seeks a Product Engineer – Sustaining to own existing automotive and industrial fluids products through their lifecycle. You will troubleshoot, implement changes, and coordinate with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure performance, quality, and compliance.

The role emphasizes data-driven problem solving, cost-effective manufacturability, and proactive lifecycle support across multiple teams.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Chemical/Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
• Ability to read specs, formulations, materials requirements and manufacturing processes.
• Strong problem-solving, data interpretation, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary sustaining engineer for existing products and lifecycle management.
• Lead or support engineering change requests related to process updates and quality improvements.
• Collaborate with R&D to maintain product knowledge, specs, and testing methods.
• Investigate nonconformances and customer complaints with root-cause analysis.
• Improve manufacturability, process robustness, yield, and throughput.
• Evaluate alternate materials and continuity-of-supply risks with Supply Chain.
• Update specifications, BOMs, and change records as needed.
• Analyze performance data and quality trends for continuous improvement.
• Support regulatory updates and cross-functional implementation.

Skills

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Data interpretation

Structured problem solving

Communication

Technical troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Lifecycle management

Education

Bachelor’s degree (Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry)

Tools

Statistical analysis

Design of experiments

Product lifecycle management systems

Quality management systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Product Engineer – Sustaining is responsible for sustaining and improving existing Automotive and Industrial Fluids products after transition from R&D into commercial operation. This individual contributor role serves as the technical owner for assigned products throughout their lifecycle, partnering closely with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to resolve product issues, support business continuity, improve cost and manufacturability, and maintain product performance, quality, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary engineering contact for sustaining support of assigned existing products, including technical troubleshooting, product changes, and lifecycle management activities.
• Lead or support engineering change requests related to raw material changes, supplier changes, manufacturing process updates, packaging changes, cost reduction initiatives, and quality improvements.
• Partner with R&D to receive and maintain product knowledge, specifications, formulations, test methods, design intent, and technical rationale for products transitioned to the business.
• Collaborate with Quality to investigate product nonconformances, customer complaints, deviations, and corrective/preventive actions, ensuring sound technical root cause analysis and effective resolution.
• Work with Manufacturing to improve product manufacturability, process robustness, yield, throughput, and operational consistency while maintaining product performance requirements.
• Support Supply Chain by evaluating alternate materials, supplier qualifications, obsolescence risks, and continuity-of-supply issues.
• Maintain and update product specifications, technical documentation, bills of materials, test requirements, and change records as needed.
• Analyze product performance, manufacturing data, customer feedback, and quality trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support regulatory, compliance, and customer-driven updates by assessing technical impact and coordinating implementation with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance to internal teams regarding product capabilities, limitations, changes, and lifecycle status.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
• Ability to understand product specifications, formulation or materials requirements, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis, data interpretation, and disciplined decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in wet chemistry lab environment; familiar with basic laboratory practice

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in product engineering, sustaining engineering, lifecycle engineering, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, quality engineering, or a related technical role.

• Experience supporting automotive fluids, industrial fluids, chemicals, coatings, lubricants, additives, or related formulated products.
• Knowledge of automotive, industrial, or chemical manufacturing environments.
• Experience with engineering change control, product lifecycle management systems, quality management systems, and bill of material management.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis, design of experiments, process capability, or continuous improvement tools.
• Experience supporting customer audits, supplier qualifications, regulatory updates, or technical customer inquiries

Key Competencies

• Technical ownership and accountability
• Structured problem solving and root cause analysis
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Attention to detail and documentation discipline
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Business and customer focus
• Ability to balance quality, cost, manufacturability, and supply continuity

This opportunity offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness benefits
• Company-matching 401(k) plan
• Company-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment benefits
• Company-paid identity theft insurance
• Company-paid disability
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Company-paid employee assistance program
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Additional benefits included: voluntary life insurance, legal benefits, critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, and pet insurance

Old World Industries is among the largest privately held companies competing in the automotive aftermarket today. Built upon a 50-year history of ingenuity, the Northbrook, Illinois-based company is transforming the automotive, commercial and chemical industries that keep the world moving forward. Old World’s brands include a full line of PEAK® Performance Automotive Aftermarket Products including Antifreeze/Coolant, Washer Fluid, Lighting and Wiper Blades; BlueDEF® Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Equipment; FINAL CHARGE® PRO-SERIES Heavy Duty Extended Life Coolant, Fleet Charge® SCA Precharged Heavy Duty Coolant and Thermal Charge® Heat Transfer Fluid.