Principal Mechanical Engineer - NPD

Tennant Company•Golden Valley, MN

2d•$113,600 - $175,700•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Mechanical Engineer is a senior technical authority responsible for defining and guiding the architecture, design strategy, and execution of complex mechanical and electro-mechanical systems within new product development. This role applies deep product and process technology knowledge, develops and applies advanced engineering methodologies, and provides technical direction where precedent may be limited. This position operates across complex programs, product platforms, and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products that meet performance, cost, quality, and schedule objectives. The role balances engineering rigor and development velocity while providing technical insight to identify risks and opportunities, adjust plans, and improve outcomes. The Principal Mechanical Engineer contributes beyond individual project execution by improving engineering practices, mentoring others, supporting technical strategic planning, and helping set the direction for product and process technology in technically complex areas.

Requirements

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data-driven decision making.
Ability to balance technical rigor with development speed in a fast-paced NPD environment.
In-depth knowledge of mechanical and electro-mechanical product and process technologies in technically complex or ambiguous areas, or broad knowledge across multiple related technologies.
Ability to develop, evaluate, select, and implement state-of-the-art solutions to complex engineering problems.
Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferred), GD&T, tolerance analysis, FMEA/DFMEA, and design review practices.
Experience modeling, predicting, and validating system performance through analysis, test data, and engineering judgment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to influence across teams and communicate with leadership.
Ability to lead technically without direct authority and provide direction across disciplines and functions.
Demonstrated accountability for technical work activities, deliverables, artifacts, and schedule commitments.
BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field required; MS preferred.
10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including significant new product development involvement.
Demonstrated experience leading complex designs from concept through production.

Nice To Haves

Experience in industrial vehicles, mobile systems, or complex electro-mechanical products.
Experience with high-volume manufacturing and DFM/DFA optimization.
Exposure to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices and tools a plus
Experience leading technical initiatives, major multi-year projects, or cross-platform engineering improvements.
Experience contributing to technical roadmaps, standards, methods, or capability-building efforts.
Experience mentoring and developing engineering talent.
Familiarity with rapid prototyping and agile or hybrid development methods.
Six Sigma, structured problem solving, or similar continuous improvement experience.

Responsibilities

Serves as a recognized technical authority in mechanical and electro-mechanical system design, with broad versatility across complex product and process technologies.
Provides hands-on technical leadership across multiple product programs, subsystem domains, and cross-functional teams.
Leads system architecture decisions, design trade-offs, and technical risk assessments, especially where solutions may require original approaches or may not have prior application at Tennant.
Establishes subsystem and system performance specifications and guides their evolution throughout development.
Applies and develops advanced methodologies, tools, and technologies to improve product performance, development speed, and engineering quality.
Identifies industry and technology trends and translates relevant insights into product, platform, and process direction.
Provides technical insight to analyze risks and opportunities, adjust plans, and minimize schedule, cost, quality, and performance risk.
Drives a balanced approach to engineering rigor and speed, ensuring timely decisions without compromising product integrity.
Defines fit-for-purpose validation strategies aligned to program phase, technical uncertainty, and risk profile.
Creates and evaluates concepts, models, layouts, and detailed designs to solve complex engineering problems.
Guides analysis activities such as tolerance analysis, design verification planning, and data-driven performance prediction.
Leverages laboratory, field, supplier, manufacturing, and quality data to inform decisions and manage design trade-offs.
Collaborates with systems, electrical, software, manufacturing, sourcing, service, and quality teams to achieve integrated solutions.
Champions initiatives to resolve critical process and technology-related issues using structured problem solving and technical expertise.
Drives root-cause analysis and corrective actions for designs not meeting requirements.
Champions engineering best practices including DFMEA, GD&T, design reviews, requirements alignment, and verification/validation discipline.
Improves technical processes independently and through cross-functional teams to strengthen engineering execution and repeatability.
Contributes to technical strategic planning for a cluster of related people, projects, technologies, or product platforms.
May lead major multi-year projects or technical initiatives, including early evaluation of cost, schedule, quality, and technical alternatives.
May serve as principal author or co-author of project proposals, technical initiatives, or capability-building efforts.
Works with internal and external suppliers to achieve performance, cost, manufacturability, and quality targets.
Plans and supports prototype builds, verification, validation, production implementation, and transition from development to manufacturing.
Develops measures to support initiatives, technical strategies, and continuous improvement of engineering practices.
Mentors engineers, models Tennant values, and strengthens organizational technical capability through coaching and knowledge transfer.
Communicates technical direction, risks, recommendations, trade-offs, and mitigation plans clearly to stakeholders and leadership.
Provides timely feedback when technical or schedule commitments are at risk and develops mitigation plans to minimize delay.