Product Engineer

Your Opportunity is Here with HSM • Hickory, NC

20d

About The Position

HSM is a third-generation, privately held manufacturing company founded in 1944, with 25 U.S. locations and corporate headquarters in Hickory and Huntersville, North Carolina. It manufactures components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries, and designs and builds automated production machinery.

The Product Engineer identifies product opportunities by researching customer and end-user needs, benchmarking competing products, and evaluating markets and applications for manufacturing capabilities. The role develops product briefs, business cases, and roadmaps; designs and develops components, subassemblies, and finished products; and maintains CAD models, drawings, bills of material, specifications, and controlled design records.

The position plans feasibility studies, proof-of-concept builds, and experiments; coordinates prototypes, testing, inspections, and design verification; and works with Quality and regulatory resources to meet applicable requirements. It coordinates product development from approved concept through tooling, pilot production, launch, and stabilization, while partnering with Manufacturing and Process Engineering to confirm readiness and resolve issues. The engineer also analyzes product and business data to recommend improvements and cost reductions, and serves as the engineering contact for assigned products, collaborating with customers, suppliers, and internal teams on requirements, risks, and root-cause resolution. Travel of up to 25% is required for customer and supplier visits, market research, industry events, testing, launches, and support across TSM facilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Product Design, Materials, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• At least five years of experience in product engineering, product development, design engineering, or closely related manufacturing engineering.
• Experience taking manufactured products from concept through launch, including involvement in market research, product planning, or commercialization.
• Ability to translate customer needs, competitive research, and market trends into product recommendations.
• Knowledge of product roadmaps, business cases, target costing, margins, and commercialization.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, or Autodesk Inventor, plus engineering drawings and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
• Working knowledge of foam, metal, vinyl, textiles, plastics, adhesives, fastening applications, and associated manufacturing processes.
• Experience developing specifications, bills of material, prototypes, validation plans, and controlled engineering documentation.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and formal product design and development controls.
• Experience using structured root-cause analysis methods such as 8D, Five Why, Fishbone, or A3.
• Experience with ERP, PLM, document-control systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical, project management, and communication skills, including the ability to explain technical tradeoffs and manage priorities across facilities and functions.

Nice To Haves

• Seven or more years of relevant engineering experience.
• Product development experience with medical devices, medical furnishings, hospitality furnishings, sleeper mechanisms, or collegiate furnishings.
• Related experience with commercial or institutional furniture, seating, bedding, mechanisms, or other durable products.
• Experience developing products that combine multiple materials or manufacturing processes.
• Experience with articulating, folding, reclining, or sleeper mechanisms.
• Familiarity with applicable product safety and performance requirements, including structural integrity, stability, load capacity, durability, cleanability, and flammability.
• Experience with quality systems, risk management, traceability, and validation practices applicable to medical devices and furnishings.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and customer-specific requirements, where applicable.
• Experience with JD Edwards.

Responsibilities

• Research customer and end-user needs, benchmark competing products, and evaluate new markets and applications for manufacturing capabilities.
• Develop product briefs and business cases covering requirements, target costs, pricing assumptions, expected demand, and investment needs; maintain roadmaps and prioritize development opportunities.
• Design components, subassemblies, and finished products using appropriate materials and manufacturing processes.
• Maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of material, specifications, and controlled design records.
• Plan feasibility studies, proof-of-concept builds, and experiments to address technical uncertainties and evaluate product performance.
• Coordinate prototypes, laboratory testing, first article inspections, and design verification; partner with Quality and regulatory resources on applicable requirements.
• Coordinate development milestones from approved concept through tooling, pilot production, launch, and stabilization.
• Work with Manufacturing and Process Engineering to confirm production readiness and resolve design-related issues.
• Review sales, margins, customer feedback, warranty, scrap, and rework data to recommend product improvements and cost reductions while preserving safety, quality, and performance.
• Serve as the engineering contact for assigned products, communicate requirements and risks, and use structured root-cause analysis to resolve concerns with customers, suppliers, and internal partners.

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants.
• 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one.
• Three weeks of paid time off plus company-paid holidays.
• Free on-site medical clinics for employees and covered dependents.
• 24/7 Teladoc access with no copay.
• Tuition reimbursement, professional development assistance, and career growth opportunities.
• Discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort and Verizon Wireless.

What This Job Offers

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