Product Development Engineer

RFC • Shelbyville, KY

9d

About The Position

The Product Development Engineer translates customer and business needs into practical product concepts and manufacturing solutions, supporting development from initial customer conversations through production launch. The position evaluates product and process feasibility and contributes to design, validation, commercialization, and handoff to internal teams. Placement may be at Engineer I, II, or III based on demonstrated capability and scope, not years of experience alone.

The role collaborates with internal teams, suppliers, customers, and global voestalpine colleagues. It combines office-based engineering work, time in manufacturing facilities, and occasional travel. Manufacturing environments may include moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and loud noise. Compliance with established safety policies and procedures is expected. 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 that provides 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, with 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; employment visa sponsorship is not available.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• At the Engineer I level, contribute to customer meetings, product trials, data collection, root-cause investigation, and launch activities.
• At the Engineer II level, independently lead moderately complex projects or major workstreams and mentor less experienced team members.
• At the Engineer III level, guide complex programs, support opportunity strategy, and provide technical direction and coaching.

Benefits

• Several benefit plans, including multiple health insurance options, vision, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability coverage, health-saving accounts, or flexible spending account.
• Paid time off during 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.
• Countdown to Zero global environmental impact initiative.

What This Job Offers

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