Senior Product Development Engineer

Brunson Instrument Company; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunson Instrument Company is seeking a Senior Product Development Engineer to own full lifecycle development of precision measurement products. You will drive projects through Brunson’s stage-gate NPD process from concept to launch, applying first-principles analysis and FEA to meet demanding performance and manufacturability requirements.

You will lead design reviews, mentor the engineering team, and collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and Service to translate customer needs into clear

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on new product development experience with mechanically focused products.
• Background in metrology, measurement systems, or optical-mechanical alignment preferred.
• Experience applying stress analysis, tolerance stack-up, GD&T, kinematics, and FEA to solve design problems.
• Led products from concept through production with attention to ergonomics and aesthetics.
• Proficient in 3D CAD, SolidWorks, and Microsoft Office; experience with FEA tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of new products from concept through design release.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles and analytical methods to validate designs prior to prototyping.
• Drive projects through the stage-gate NPD process from concept to market launch.
• Develop multiple design concepts and use data-driven decisions to balance performance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Plan, execute, and document prototype builds and testing; implement design improvements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the engineering team.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to translate customer needs into engineering requirements and specifications.
• Maintain comprehensive engineering documentation including BOMs and drawings.

Skills

Analytical problem solving

Project management

Technical mentoring

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

PLM/ERP familiarity

Job description

At Brunson Instrument Company, we design and deliver precision measurement and alignment solutions that support some of the most demanding engineering and manufacturing environments. Our team is driven by technical excellence, customer partnership, and a commitment to helping customers achieve accuracy, efficiency, and confidence in their operations. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a motivated Senior Product Development Engineer to be a key contributor to Brunson’s growth and innovation pipeline.

Reporting to the Vice President, Engineering and Product Development, the Senior Product Development Engineer will own the full lifecycle of new product development including driving projects through Brunson’s stage-gate NPD process from concept generation and feasibility through detailed design, prototyping, and launch readiness. You will apply rigorous engineering first-principles thinking and analytical problem-solving to create products that meet demanding performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements. Additional as the senior technical leader on assigned development projects, you will set the engineering direction and elevate the team around you.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of new products, from concept generation through design release.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles and analytical methods, including stress, tolerance, kinematic, and finite element analysis (FEA), to validate and optimize designs prior to prototyping.
• Drive assigned projects through Brunson's stage-gate New Product Development (NPD) process, owning key deliverables, decisions, and progress from concept through market launch.
• Develop and evaluate multiple design concepts, using data-driven decision-making to balance performance, cost, quality, and manufacturability.
• Plan, execute, and document prototype builds and testing programs; analyze results and implement design improvements based on findings.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the engineering team, promoting best practices in product design, analysis, and development.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, and other stakeholders to translate customer needs into clear engineering requirements and product specifications.
• Maintain comprehensive engineering documentation, including design records, test reports, bills of materials (BOMs), engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes relevant to Brunson's product portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on new product development experience with mechanically focused products.
• Background in metrology, measurement systems, or optical-mechanical alignment preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering analytical methods (stress analysis, tolerance stack-up, GD&T, kinematics, FEA) to solve complex design problems.
• Proven experience leading products from concept through production. Additional ability to incorporate ergonomic and aesthetic considerations into product designs preferred but not required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to present technical content clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity with CNC machining, DFM, and Lean product development is beneficial but not required.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with strong organizational skills and the ability to independently manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD, SolidWorks, and Microsoft Office products. Experience with FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, or SolidWorks Simulation) a plus.
• Additional experience with PDM/PLM and ERP systems ideal.

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers.