Lead Product Engineer

ZAH Group•Mansfield, TX

About The Position

At Klein Tools, curiosity powers discovery, ownership inspires excellence, and urgency means we run towards opportunities. We deliver quality and innovation in everything we do, designing and launching hundreds of groundbreaking products each year. Join us and be part of a legacy built to last. A Lead Product Engineer is a senior-level engineering professional responsible for leading the design, development, and improvement of products. This role serves as a key technical expert within the team, focusing on project outcomes and ensuring on-time delivery of product development in the tool industry. It involves problem-solving, evaluating options for product design, sustaining activities, project management, and implementing solutions with minimal direction. The role requires strong analytical and design skills across multiple subject areas.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
Experience: Five (5) or more years of direct work experience in product development and introduction.
Skills:
Strong technical, analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
Solid understanding of new product development and business-related initiatives.
Proven experience in facilitating complex projects and solutions with multiple interactions.
Conflict resolution and team leadership experience.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including technical analysis and financial justifications.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, goals, and direction under time constraints.
Strong team focus and ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Product Design & Development
Apply theoretical principles and practical approaches to design products and systems within program requirements.
Perform complex work, including feasibility studies, cost analysis, and engineering proposal evaluations.
Conduct advanced 3D CAD modeling, 2D drafting, and run advanced FEA studies independently.
Project Management
Manage multiple medium to high-difficulty projects autonomously.
Accurately estimate and build project timelines within the phase gate product development framework.
Oversee and coordinate multiple high-priority action items, delegating work effectively.
Constantly review and implement changes to keep projects on time.
Innovation & Problem Solving
Drive product improvements and contribute to cutting-edge solutions.
Solve advanced problems, including conducting detailed feasibility studies and resolving design/test issues.
Leadership & Mentorship
Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for at least one product category.
Provide direction and mentorship to other engineers within the department and project teams.
Represent the organization in vendor meetings to resolve critical questions and coordinate work.
Collaboration & Communication
Work closely with Product Management to develop new products and customer-desired features.
Maintain close contact with team leaders, business unit managers, and the executive team.
Develop high-level PowerPoint presentations to communicate complex engineering concepts.
Use advanced Excel functions (e.g., pivot tables, macros) for data analysis and reporting.
Clearly and concisely explain technical subjects based on the audience and proofread work of junior engineers.
Strategic Alignment
Prioritize engineering projects in alignment with organizational goals.
Minimize negative financial impacts during project implementation.
Serve as a teacher of the Klein NPD (New Product Development) processes.
Other Duties
Perform other duties as requested to support organizational objectives.