Senior R&D Engineer

H C Duke & Son Llc; East Moline (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision benefits

401k with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Electro Freeze/H.C. Duke LLC, a Welbilt Company, in East Moline, Illinois, seeks a Senior R&D Engineer to lead the development of new technologies and product improvements for commercial frozen treat equipment.

You will own projects from concept to commercialization, drive prototyping, testing, and documentation, and guide cross-functional teams through technical decisions. The role requires hands-on prototyping, strong mechanical and thermodynamic knowledge, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Minimum five years of engineering experience in product development or related roles.
• Experience with hands-on prototyping, fabrication, assembly, troubleshooting, or testing.
• Experience with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software.
• Familiarity with UL, NSF, CE, or similar regulatory standards preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own projects, from concept through commercialization, including system architecture, technical decision-making, validation activities, and cross-functional coordination.
• Lead hands-on prototyping, fabrication, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting, to prove out concepts and new technologies.
• Create and execute engineering test plans to evaluate product performance, reliability, food quality, safety, usability, and manufacturability.
• Develop, review, and approve CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and engineering documentation.
• Lead technical investigations, root cause analysis, and problem-solving activities involving complex engineering challenges.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Service, Regulatory, and Operations teams to ensure successful product implementation.
• Drive value engineering, design-for-manufacturability, design-to-cost, and product optimization initiatives.
• Support intellectual property development, invention disclosures, competitive benchmarking, and technology roadmap activities.
• Support certification, compliance, and agency approval activities including UL, NSF, CE, and related standards.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Mechanical design

Thermodynamics & heat transfer

Fluid systems

Electromechanical development

SolidWorks

Engineering analysis

Manufacturing knowledge

Technical communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Submissions from third-party recruiters or employment agencies will not be accepted. All candidates must apply directly.Company OverviewElectro Freeze/H.C. Duke LLC, a Welbilt Company, located in East Moline, Illinois, is a leader in the design and innovation of frozen treat equipment. Our product line includes solutions for soft serve, yogurt, shake, frozen beverages, hard pack/gelato batch freezers, and flavor systems.Position OverviewThe Senior R&D Engineer leads the development of new technologies, products, and product improvements for commercial frozen treat equipment. This role is responsible for concept development, system architecture, prototype design, validation testing, and product commercialization activities that support the growth of the Company's product portfolio.This position serves as a technical leader within the engineering organization, driving innovation initiatives and providing engineering direction across cross-functional teams. The role combines hands-on engineering with system-level product development responsibility, to deliver innovative, practical, and manufacturable solutions.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn projects, from concept through commercialization, including system architecture, technical decision-making, validation activities, and cross-functional coordination.Lead hands-on prototyping, fabrication, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting, to prove out concepts and new technologies.Create and execute, engineering test plans to evaluate product performance, reliability, food quality, safety, usability, and manufacturability.Develop, review, and approve CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of material, and engineering documentation.Lead technical investigations, root cause analysis, and problem-solving activities involving complex engineering challenges.Evaluate new technologies, materials, components, manufacturing methods, and supplier capabilities to support innovation and competitive differentiation.Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Service, Regulatory, and Operations teams to ensure successful product implementation.Drive value engineering, design-for-manufacturability, design-to-cost, and product optimization initiativesSupport intellectual property development, invention disclosures, competitive benchmarking, and technology roadmap activities.Support certification, compliance, and agency approval activities including UL, NSF, CE, and related standards.Benefits:Employer sponsored benefits:Employee group term life insurance and AD&DShort -term and long-term disabilityCompany HSA contribution for HDHPEmployee assistance programFinancial wellness servicesTravel assistanceAnnual discretionary 401k bonus10 paid holidaysPaid time offAnnual PPE reimbursement programVoluntary benefit offerings:Medical insurance (PPO and HDHP with HSA)Prescription benefitsDental insuranceVision benefitsMedical and dependent care flexible spending accountsAdditional voluntary life insurance and AD&D, including dependent coverageSupplemental plans (Critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity)Group legal coverage and identity theft protection401k program with a company matchJob RequirementsAdvanced knowledge of engineering principles, product development methodologies, and system-level design practices.Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineers, technicians, suppliers, and external development partners.Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects and engineering initiatives from concept through implementation.Strong understanding of mechanical design, thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid systems, and electromechanical product development.Proficiency with CAD software including SolidWorks or similar design platforms.Ability to perform engineering analysis, product validation, testing, and advanced troubleshooting activities.Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, tolerancing, and design-for-manufacturability principles.Ability to define technical requirements and translate concepts into practical engineering solutions.Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence technical decisions across multiple functions.Ability to manage multiple technical projects and priorities simultaneously.Ability to provide technical leadership and engineering direction without direct supervisory authorityEducation and ExperienceBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline.Minimum of five (5) years of engineering experience in product development, testing, manufacturing, or related technical roles.Experience with hands-on prototyping, fabrication, assembly, troubleshooting, or testing activities.Experience with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software.Experience with laboratory testing and product validation preferred.Experience with refrigeration systems, foodservice equipment, appliances, HVAC equipment, agricultural equipment, or other electromechanical products preferred.Experience with rapid prototyping tools, fabrication methods, or 3D printing preferred.Familiarity with UL, NSF, CE, or similar regulatory standards preferred.Key CompetenciesProduct innovation and technology development.System-level design and integration.Product development ownership and accountability.Hands-on prototyping and experimentation.Cross-functional leadership and influence.Value engineering and cost optimization.Technical communication and mentoring.