Senior Product Engineer

ZAH Group•Mansfield, TX

About The Position

The Senior Product Engineer is an experienced technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and improving products in the tool industry. The role leads product-development outcomes and on-time delivery, evaluates design and sustaining-work options, manages projects, and implements solutions with limited direction. It includes independent engineering decision-making, advanced problem-solving, coordination with vendors and internal teams, and contributing to product innovation and improvement. The engineer manages several medium- to high-difficulty projects and action items, develops timelines within a phase-gate product-development framework, and coordinates technical development and resolution of design and test issues. The role works closely with Product Management to develop products and customer-desired features; represents the organization in vendor meetings; and may serve as a liaison between internal customers, vendors, and engineering teams. It also includes communicating technical concepts and project evaluations, reviewing the work of lower-level engineers, and providing mentorship and direction to engineers and project teams. The position requires international travel as needed. Physical demands occasionally include standing, walking, sitting, handling tools or objects, reaching, pushing or pulling, climbing stairs, balancing, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, using foot or leg controls, and lifting or moving objects up to 25 pounds. Employees should not lift over 50 pounds alone. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution or program.
Three or more years of direct work experience in the relevant area.
Excellent technical, analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
Solid understanding of new product development and new product introduction.
Broad knowledge of academic engineering principles 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 analyses 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 colleagues.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed.

Responsibilities

Determine and apply appropriate theoretical principles and practical approaches to design products and systems within program requirements.
Make independent decisions on engineering problems and methods.
Drive product improvements and contribute to the development of innovative solutions.
Represent the organization in vendor meetings to resolve questions and plan and coordinate work.
Proactively manage several medium- to high-difficulty projects.
Estimate and build project timelines within the phase-gate product-development framework.
Manage multiple medium- to high-priority action items concurrently and delegate work when needed.
Perform work involving complex features.
Conduct detailed feasibility studies for proposed products or systems, including reviewing design and development plans, cost estimates, engineering proposals, and specifications.
Coordinate and schedule technical-development activities and resolve engineering design and test problems.
Liaise with internal customers and vendor representatives as needed to ensure design specifications meet end-user needs and requirements.
Communicate clearly and concisely to the intended audience and proofread work by 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 advanced 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 continuously 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 in directing and mentoring other engineers in the department and on project teams.
Minimize negative financial impact at facilities during project implementation.
Work closely with Product Management to develop new products and customer-desired feature sets.
Perform other duties as requested.