Product Development Engineer

voestalpine Roll Forming Corporation • Shelbyville, KY

6d

About The Position

The Product Development Engineer develops new manufacturing business from the initial customer conversation through production launch. The role translates customer needs into practical engineering concepts, evaluates product and process feasibility, and collaborates across teams to take solutions through design, validation, and commercialization. Placement may be at Engineer I, II, or III based on demonstrated capability and scope, not years of experience alone.

The engineer works across customer-facing and internal activities, including technical proposals, manufacturing cost estimates, product and tooling development, production trials, validation, and launch handoff. The role balances customer value, manufacturability, cost, timing, quality, maintainability, and safety while managing schedules, risks, documentation, and expenditures.

Work includes office-based engineering, time in manufacturing facilities, and occasional travel. Manufacturing environments may involve moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and loud noise. The employee is expected to follow established safety policies and procedures. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience providing the required technical capability.
• Knowledge of product design and development, engineering problem solving, design reviews, technical documentation, validation, and change control.
• Understanding of materials, roll forming or comparable manufacturing processes, tooling, high-volume production, tolerances, and production constraints.
• Ability to read and develop technical drawings and specifications, with working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and metrology.
• Hands-on experience with AutoCAD, Inventor, CATIA, or comparable 2D/3D CAD software.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong analytical, communication, relationship-building, and decision-making skills, including the ability to connect technical solutions to customer value and business needs.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship; the company is unable to sponsor employment visas.
• For Engineer I, entry level to 2 years of related engineering or technical development experience; relevant co-op, internship, research, or hands-on manufacturing experience may be considered.
• For Engineer II, typically 3 or more years of related experience, including ownership of product, design, tooling, process, or manufacturing development work through implementation or launch.
• For Engineer III, typically 6 or more years of progressively responsible related experience, including leadership of complex cross-functional development, commercialization, strategic technical, or customer-facing initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in metal manufacturing, roll forming, tooling, high-volume production, product launch, technical sales, or project engineering.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) software and Mastercam or comparable CAM tools.
• Master’s degree in Engineering or Business Administration.
• Training or certification in project management, Design for Manufacturability, GD&T, FEA, Lean, or Six Sigma.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer and business needs into engineering requirements, product concepts, drawings, specifications, and development plans.
• Evaluate materials, roll forming processes, tooling, equipment, tolerances, and manufacturing capabilities to determine technical feasibility.
• Support or lead development activities, including design reviews, prototype or tooling development, trials, validation, launch, and handoff to internal teams.
• Partner with Sales, Estimating, Engineering, Project Management, Quality, Supply Chain, Tooling, Manufacturing Operations, suppliers, and global voestalpine colleagues.
• Participate in customer meetings, explain technical capabilities, present concepts, and support proposals and commercialization plans.
• Develop manufacturing cost estimates covering labor, machine time, tooling, capital equipment, materials, scrap, outside processing, packaging, quality, and launch requirements; support quote reviews and technical risk assessments.
• Balance customer value, manufacturability, cost, timing, quality, maintainability, and safety while managing assigned schedules, risks, documentation, and expenditures.
• Resolve design and trial issues, capture lessons learned, and improve engineering standards and development practices.
• Depending on level, contribute to customer meetings, product trials, data collection, root-cause investigation, and launch activities; lead moderately complex projects or workstreams; mentor less experienced team members; or guide complex programs, support opportunity strategy, and provide technical direction and coaching.

Benefits

• Several benefit plans, including multiple health insurance options, vision and dental insurance, life and short-term and long-term disability coverage, health-saving accounts, or flexible spending account.
• Paid time off in the first year, including vacation, personal, and sick time.
• 401K or 401K Roth with up to 6% match.
• Quarterly profit-sharing bonus.
• Leadership training opportunities.
• TogetherWeCare philanthropic volunteer program allowing employees to support their community while on company time.

What This Job Offers

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