Product Engineer

PREMIUM GUARD INCORPORATED•Albion, IL

3d•$80,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and continuously improving filtration products for the automotive aftermarket. The role includes design responsibility for internally manufactured products and technical evaluation of externally sourced products. The engineer collaborates with Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure products meet customer requirements, industry standards, and manufacturing capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in product engineering, mechanical design, or product development; automotive filtration or a related manufacturing industry is preferred.
Strong understanding of mechanical engineering principles, including material properties, stress analysis, structural mechanics, and component design.
Knowledge of filtration technology and media performance metrics, including efficiency, dirt-holding capacity, pressure drop, and service life.
Experience in mechanical product design, engineering drawings, material selection, and design validation.
Experience defining test procedures and acceptance criteria to validate product designs and performance.
Familiarity with CAD software, engineering change management, and design control processes.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and technical troubleshooting skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of metal stamping, forming, and sheet metal fabrication processes.
Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) or other engineering analysis methods to evaluate component stress, deformation, and structural performance.
Knowledge of applicable ISO and SAE testing standards; familiarity with IATF 16949, APQP, and PPAP.

Responsibilities

Design and develop filtration products and components, including engineering specifications, drawings, material requirements, and performance criteria.
Define product specifications and requirements based on customer needs, market trends, and applicable industry standards.
Evaluate mechanical design characteristics, including material selection, thickness, geometry, stress, and structural strength, against pressure, deflection, durability, and performance requirements.
Develop and execute test plans to validate filtration efficiency, dirt-holding capacity, pressure drop, burst pressure, structural integrity, and service life.
Develop, review, and approve engineering drawings and specifications for compliance with design and performance requirements.
Coordinate and manage prototype and sample approvals, including dimensional inspections and performance testing.
Evaluate and approve engineering design changes, material substitutions, and product modifications to maintain compliance with performance requirements.
Conduct engineering analysis, experiments, and testing to optimize product performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Product Management on new product introductions, production processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Investigate product failures and performance concerns, identify root causes, and support corrective actions.
Stay current with filtration technology, materials, manufacturing processes, and applicable industry standards.
Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, including product specifications, drawings, test reports, and design validation records.