Product Engineer II - Outdoors Division

Klein Tools•Mansfield, TX

About The Position

Klein Tools is seeking a Product Engineer II for its Outdoors Division. The role leads the design, development, and improvement of products and serves as a technical expert responsible for project outcomes and on-time product development in the tool industry. The engineer evaluates options for product design, sustaining activities, and project management, and implements solutions with limited direction. The position manages medium- to high-difficulty projects within a phase-gate product development framework, including feasibility studies, design and development reviews, cost estimates, engineering proposals, specifications, and coordination of technical development and testing. It works closely with Product Management, internal stakeholders, vendors, and other engineering team members to develop products and desired features, resolve design and test issues, and ensure designs meet end-user needs. The role also contributes technical leadership, project prioritization, mentoring, and communication of engineering concepts and project evaluations. The position requires international travel as needed. Physical demands include occasional standing, walking, sitting, use of hands and arms, climbing stairs, balancing, bending, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and lifting or moving objects up to 25 pounds. Employees should not lift more than 50 pounds on their own. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution or program.
Two to three years of direct work experience in the relevant area (the posting states “three (2-3) years”).
Excellent technical, analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
Solid understanding of new product development and new product introduction.
Broad academic engineering knowledge and a basic understanding of business-related initiatives.
Demonstrated experience facilitating complex projects and solutions involving multiple interactions.
Conflict-resolution skills and demonstrated team leadership experience.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present technical analysis and financially based justifications to support decision-making at all organizational levels.
Ability to work amid changing priorities, goals, and direction, including stressful conditions and time constraints.
Strong team focus and ability to work with internal and external partners.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed.

Responsibilities

Determine and execute theoretical principles and practical approaches to design products and systems within program requirements.
Independently make decisions on engineering problems and methods.
Drive product improvements and contribute to innovative product solutions.
Represent the organization in vendor meetings to resolve questions and plan and coordinate work.
Autonomously manage several medium- to high-difficulty projects.
Estimate and develop project timelines within the phase-gate product development framework.
Manage multiple medium- to high-priority action items concurrently and delegate work when necessary.
Perform work involving complex features.
Conduct detailed feasibility studies, review design and development plans and cost estimates, and evaluate engineering proposals and specifications.
Coordinate and schedule technical development activities and resolve engineering design and test problems.
Liaise with internal customers and vendor representatives to ensure design specifications meet end-user needs and requirements.
Communicate clearly and concisely to the intended audience, and proof the work of lower-level engineers.
Create high-level PowerPoint presentations explaining complex engineering concepts and project evaluations to internal stakeholders and external vendors.
Use advanced Excel functions, such as pivot tables and macros, to streamline data analysis and reporting.
Use high-level 3D CAD modeling and 2D drafting for medium- to high-difficulty projects, and conduct advanced static FEA studies with little to no consultation.
Review active projects and implement changes as needed to keep them on schedule.
Prioritize engineering projects in line with organizational needs and strategic goals.
Maintain close contact with team leaders, business unit managers, and the executive team.
Assist with providing direction and mentorship to engineers in the department and on project teams.
Minimize negative financial impact to facilities during project implementation.
Work closely with Product Management to develop new products and customer-desired feature sets.
Perform other duties as requested.
Travel internationally as needed.