Research & Development - Research Engineer 3

EFCO Corp.•Des Moines, IA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Engineer 3 is responsible for driving disruptive product innovation by developing new technologies and prototypes that advance EFCO’s capabilities. This role takes a concept through prototyping, testing, and field trials, and then collaborates with the New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer for handoff to production. The Research Engineer 3 fosters creativity, rigor, and technical excellence while supporting EFCO’s mission of safe, high-quality, and innovative products.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Civil, or related Engineering discipline required.
Minimum of 5 years relevant engineering experience; 8+ years preferred.
Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) or international equivalent required.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, organizational, and planning skills.
Experience in innovative product development and technical collaboration.
CAD and product design.
Proficient in standard office software.

Responsibilities

Identify opportunities for product innovation and improvement.
Conduct feasibility studies, risk analysis, and trade-off evaluations.
Develop new architecture, materials, or fabrication approaches aligned with EFCO strategic objectives.
Lead prototype development from concept to field-ready model.
Coordinate with CAD designers, R&D technicians, and manufacturing teams.
Manage iterative design based on testing feedback, maintaining EFCO standards for quality, safety, and manufacturability.
Define objectives, success criteria, and test plans for prototypes.
Oversee prototype testing, analyze results, and identify design improvements.
Collaborate with the R&D Technician to ensure accurate test setups and documentation.
Provide technical guidance and support during field trials.
Evaluate performance, identify real-world failure modes, and document lessons learned.
Communicate findings to NPI Engineer to support downstream development.
Prepare comprehensive handoff packages, including design rationale, open issues, and validated test data.
Support NPI (New Product Introduction) during early industrialization of new products and consult as needed.
Contribute to process improvements, best practices, and engineering standards.
Mentor junior engineers informally and support departmental technical initiatives.