Associate Product Engineer - Home Hardlines

Target • Minneapolis, MN

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

A role with Engineering and Technical Design means being on a team of engineers and technical designers who create products that truly embody the intent of Target-owned brands. Can you ensure that each product has that just-right mix of style, quality and value? Do you love to create technical product solutions that help meet strategic business goals? Then you’ll have success on our talented and innovative team. Here, you’ll partner with our quality and compliance teams to understand performance testing protocols and develop products that meet them. Your work can help identify technical specifications and quality standards like raw materials, fit and function, construction details and dimensions. You’ll leverage collective expertise to suggest improvements to cost of goods, assembly, sustainability and ROI. You’ll also collaborate with vendors to ensure that the brand vision is clearly understood and successfully brought to life with every product we offer. As an Associate Product Engineer, you will use your skills, experience, and talents to support the development of industry leading products used by millions of people every day. This includes monitoring user feedback, vendor product, and industry advances; as well as developing and maintaining technical specifications for owned brand products. Likewise, you’ll focus on quality monitoring and control by maintaining a working knowledge of applicable government regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and Target performance standards for products. You will also identify and communicate recommendations for product improvement and new category growth. Based on trends in product innovation, technology, raw materials, and manufacturing, you’ll support the creation of engineering and technical strategies for product development. In addition, you will research emerging trends in product development and identify white space opportunities for owned brands. You’ll also contribute to the creation, testing, and refinement of prototypes for new product concepts. Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

Requirements

• Four-year degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Development, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 1+ years of related industry experience, preferably in consumer product development, ideally within outdoor living products, furniture, or other home categories.
• Proficiency in 2D/3D CAD software and technical knowledge of product manufacturing desired.
• Excellent problem solving skills and creative thinking skills.
• Strong project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with quality and compliance teams to understand performance testing protocols and develop products that meet them.
• Identify technical specifications and quality standards like raw materials, fit and function, construction details and dimensions.
• Leverage collective expertise to suggest improvements to cost of goods, assembly, sustainability and ROI.
• Collaborate with vendors to ensure that the brand vision is clearly understood and successfully brought to life with every product offered.
• Monitor user feedback, vendor product, and industry advances.
• Develop and maintain technical specifications for owned brand products.
• Focus on quality monitoring and control by maintaining a working knowledge of applicable government regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and Target performance standards for products.
• Identify and communicate recommendations for product improvement and new category growth.
• Support the creation of engineering and technical strategies for product development based on trends in product innovation, technology, raw materials, and manufacturing.
• Research emerging trends in product development and identify white space opportunities for owned brands.
• Contribute to the creation, testing, and refinement of prototypes for new product concepts.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short term disability
• Long term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level