Development Engineer

Thompson Manufacturing Inc. (Rock Exotica)•Clearfield, IA

2h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Development Engineer is a critical member of Rock Exotica's Research & Development group, responsible for managing the full lifecycle of New Product Introduction (NPI) from concept approval through production release. This role bridges engineering design and manufacturing execution — owning project timelines, phase gate management, product data, documentation, internal part and assembly manufacturing, and part sourcing. The Development Engineer ensures that every new product arrives on the manufacturing floor with the documentation, data, and supply chain readiness it needs to be built right the first time. This role requires full alignment with EOS Gets It, Wants It and Capacity To Do It principles.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
3+ years of experience in a product development, NPI, or manufacturing engineering role.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects from concept through production launch.
Experience authoring manufacturing documentation including work instructions, travelers, and BOMs.
Proficiency with ERP systems for product data management.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong understanding of Technical Rope Access equipment.
Project management discipline: ability to build, maintain, and drive timelines across multiple concurrent programs.
Organizational rigor: meticulous attention to detail in documentation, data entry, and revision control.
Cross-functional communication: able to translate between engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain stakeholders clearly and effectively.
ERP proficiency: comfortable owning product data in a manufacturing ERP environment.
Proactive problem solving: identifies and resolves issues before they become schedule risks.
Sense of urgency and ability to drive projects to completion.
Strong written communication skills: produces clear, accurate work instructions and documentation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a precision machined components or hardware manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with formal stage-gate or phase-gate NPI processes.
Working knowledge of GD&T and mechanical drawings.
Experience with SolidWorks or similar CAD software for drawing review purposes.
Supplier development and sourcing experience for machined or specialty components.
Passion for technical products — ideally in outdoor, safety, or industrial equipment.

Responsibilities

Owns and maintains NPI project timelines from design release through production launch, ensuring milestones are clearly defined, tracked, and communicated.
Manages the phase gate process; assembles gate review packages, tracks exit criteria, schedules reviews, and ensures all criteria are met before a project advances.
Identifies and escalates risks to schedule, cost, or scope proactively.
Serves as the primary NPI project management point of contact within R&D, coordinating across Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
Maintains NPI asset management including project files, revision histories, and program records.
Leads product improvement projects from initiation through release, applying the same phase gate discipline used for NPI to ensure changes are scoped, scheduled, and delivered without disrupting production.
Owns drawing review and control. Manages revision tracking, formal drawing releases, and ECO (Engineering Change Order) coordination in collaboration with Design Engineers.
Ensures all documentation is complete, approved, and production-ready prior to launch.
Drives documentation updates and ECO change management for product improvement projects, ensuring drawings, BOMs, and work instructions stay accurate and aligned with released changes.
Creates and maintains part numbers, assemblies, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) in the ERP system.
Ensures ERP data is accurate, complete, and updated at each phase gate — including costs, lead times, and production readiness status.
Collaborates with the Manufacturing Engineer on ERP router development; owns all non-routing ERP data entry.
Leads sourcing activities for new components — issues RFQs, coordinates supplier qualification, and manages lead time planning for NPI programs.
Partners with Operations and Purchasing to ensure materials are available for prototype builds, pilot runs, and production launch.
Supports make/buy analyses and recommends sourcing strategies for new and custom parts.
Manages the Approved Vendor List (AVL) for new products, ensuring second-source identification where appropriate.
Collaborates closely with Design Engineers on drawing releases, BOM accuracy, and design-to-manufacturing transitions.
Works with the Manufacturing Engineer to align process readiness, tooling timelines, and production documentation.
Communicates project status, decisions, and risks to the R&D Manager and relevant stakeholders in a clear and timely manner.
Represents R&D on cross-functional NPI teams and project reviews.
Performs miscellaneous duties and special projects as assigned.
Assists Design Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers in the creation of Part Drawings, Assembly Drawings, Work Instructions, Travelers, Tolerance Stack Analysis, DFMEA, PFMEA, and Product Test Reports.