Product Development Engineer - AI-Enabled Innovation

Freudenberg Group • Plymouth, MI

2d

About The Position

This role focuses on leading the development of new products from concept through prototype validation, utilizing structured engineering and innovation methodologies. The engineer will translate customer needs and market opportunities into technical requirements, product concepts, and differentiated engineering solutions. Key activities include designing, modeling, prototyping, testing, and refining products and systems, as well as defining and executing validation plans. Collaboration with various internal teams (materials, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, commercial) is essential to ensure designs are robust, manufacturable, and cost-effective. A significant aspect of the role involves leveraging digital engineering tools, coding, automation, and AI-assisted workflows to enhance productivity and accelerate design iterations. The engineer will also manage technical projects and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in product development, new product engineering, mechanical design, or a related engineering function.
• Demonstrated success leading products from concept through design, prototyping, testing, and validation.
• Strong proficiency with 3D CAD, engineering analysis, technical documentation, and product development processes.
• Solid understanding of engineering fundamentals, problem solving, design trade-offs, tolerance analysis, root cause investigation, and data-driven decision making.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment and collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop innovative products.

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to coding, engineering automation, Python, AI-enabled engineering tools, or digital engineering workflows, with a passion for leveraging emerging technologies to improve engineering effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new products from concept through prototype validation, applying structured engineering and innovation methodologies.
• Translate customer needs and market opportunities into technical requirements, product concepts, and differentiated engineering solutions.
• Design, model, prototype, test, and refine products and systems using sound engineering principles and data-driven decision making.
• Define and execute validation plans, collaborating with laboratory and technical teams to verify product performance and reliability.
• Partner with materials, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and commercial teams to ensure designs are robust, manufacturable, and cost-effective.
• Leverage digital engineering tools, coding, automation, and AI-assisted workflows to improve productivity, accelerate design iterations, and enhance engineering outcomes.
• Manage technical projects, risks, and deliverables while effectively communicating recommendations and results to customers, leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders.

What This Job Offers

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