Lead Product Engineer

Company Overview

At Klein Tools, curiosity powers discovery, ownership inspires excellence, and urgency means we run towards opportunities. We deliver quality and innovation in everything we do, designing and launching hundreds of groundbreaking products each year. Join us and be part of a legacy built to last.

Benefits

• Paid Vacations & Holidays
• Profit Sharing & Matching 401(k)
• Health Insurance (Medical, Vision, & Dental)
• Discounts on Klein Tools products
• Education and Professional Development Assistance

Role Overview

A Lead Product Engineer is a senior‑level engineering professional who leads the design, development, and improvement of products, often serving as a key technical expert within the team. This technical leadership role is responsible for project outcomes and on‑time delivery of product development in the tool industry, requiring strong analytical and design skills across multiple subject areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and improvement of products as a senior‑level engineering professional.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert for at least one product category within Klein Tools.
• Represent the organization in vendor meetings to resolve questions and coordinate work.
• Autonomously manage multiple medium to high difficulty projects, accurately estimating and building timelines within a phase‑gate product development framework.
• Oversee and coordinate multiple priority action items, delegating work when necessary.
• Perform complex feature work and conduct detailed feasibility studies, reviewing design plans, cost estimates, and engineering proposals.
• Coordinate and schedule technical development activities, resolving design and test problems.
• Act as a liaison with internal customers and vendors to ensure designs meet user needs and requirements.
• Develop high‑level PowerPoint presentations and use advanced Excel functions (pivot tables, macros) to communicate engineering concepts and project evaluations.
• Create complex 3D CAD models and 2D drafts; run advanced FEA studies with minimal consultation.
• Continuously review and implement changes to keep projects on schedule and prioritize engineering projects in alignment with strategic goals.
• Maintain close contact with team leaders, business‑unit managers, and the executive team.
• Provide direction and mentorship to other engineers; teach Klein NPD processes.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management on new products and customer‑desired feature sets.
• Minimize negative financial impact during project implementation.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited institution.
• Five (5) or more years of direct mechanical engineering experience in product development.
• Excellent technical, analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
• Solid understanding of new product development and new product introduction processes.
• Broad knowledge of engineering principles and a basic understanding of business‑related initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating complex projects with multiple interactions.
• Conflict‑resolution skills and proven team‑leadership experience.
• Strong oral and written communication abilities; capable of presenting technical analysis and financial justifications to all organizational levels.
• Ability to thrive in an environment of changing priorities, goals, and direction, often under stressful conditions and time constraints.
• Strong team focus and ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners.
• Proficiency with advanced Excel (pivot tables, macros) and PowerPoint.
• Experience with complex 3D CAD modeling, 2D drafting, and advanced FEA studies.
• Ability to mentor and provide direction to junior engineers.

Physical Demands

Occasionally required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; use fingers to touch, pick or pinch objects; reach with hands and arms; push or pull; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; use foot or leg controls; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds (no one should lift over 50 pounds on their own). Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.