New Product Development Engineer

Silgan Dispensing Systems•North Smithfield, RI

About The Position

The New Product Development Engineer supports dispensing-closure and related packaging projects from initial concept through production launch. The role combines product design, rapid prototyping, injection tooling, automation support, testing, measurement, design refinement, and qualification. It also involves improving and troubleshooting existing products and processes. The engineer works directly with Sales, customers, Operations, Quality, Engineering, suppliers, and other stakeholders, requiring strong customer service, communication, and presentation skills. The position includes developing product concepts and detailed designs in SolidWorks; creating and evaluating prototypes; coordinating pre-production tooling and molded samples; scaling approved designs to production molds and automation; and developing and executing tests, inspections, analyses, and qualifications. The engineer prepares technical and quality documentation, supports supplier coordination, maintains bills of materials and product data in JDE, and may support calibration records and activities for measurement and inspection equipment. The role requires compliance with company safety, quality, and procedural requirements. The work may take place in office, laboratory, supplier, and production-floor environments, with approximately 15% travel based on business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
Three or more years of mechanical product design and development experience.
Proficiency in SolidWorks, including 3D modeling and the creation and interpretation of 2D engineering drawings, dimensions, and tolerances.
Knowledge of thermoplastic injection molding, mold-design principles, tooling development, design for manufacturability, rapid prototyping, and 3D printing.
Ability to develop test plans and fixtures, execute testing, inspect parts, analyze results using basic statistics, and document clear conclusions and recommendations.
Proficiency with dimensional inspection equipment, including calipers, micrometers, indicators, optical comparators, and CMM systems.
Strong technical writing, customer service, verbal communication, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain technical information to customers and non-technical audiences.
Strong collaboration, organization, project-management, problem-solving, and hands-on troubleshooting skills.
Experience with ERP or product-data systems and bill-of-material creation and maintenance.
Ability to work in office, laboratory, supplier, and production-floor environments and travel approximately 15%, based on business needs.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience taking products from concept through production.
Micro-Vu experience.
JDE experience.
Familiarity with calibration systems and measurement-equipment recordkeeping.

Responsibilities

Drive dispensing-closure and packaging projects from concept through production implementation, coordinating requirements, timing, risks, and cross-functional activities.
Develop product concepts and detailed designs in SolidWorks, including accurate 3D models, 2D drawings, specifications, and tolerances.
Create and evaluate 3D-printed and rapid-tool prototypes for fit, function, manufacturability, and customer requirements.
Coordinate the design, procurement, evaluation, and qualification of pre-production tooling and molded samples; scale approved designs to production injection molds and automation.
Develop and execute test plans, fixtures, inspection methods, dimensional studies, basic statistical analyses, design adjustments, and product, process, and mold qualifications.
Refine and troubleshoot existing products, molds, processes, and automation using design, prototyping, measurement, testing, and qualification tools.
Work directly with Sales and customers to define application needs, present concepts and results, resolve technical questions, and provide responsive customer service.
Prepare quality plans, engineering and qualification reports, procedures, work instructions, technical recommendations, and customer-ready presentations.
Coordinate technical activities with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Sales, suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure requirements are complete and production-ready.
Communicate technical requirements to vendors, evaluate quotations, and monitor supplier quality, timing, and performance.
Create, review, and maintain bills of materials and related product data in JDE; as assigned, support calibration records and activities for measurement and inspection equipment.
Comply with all company safety, quality, and procedural requirements.