Product Engineer

About the role

The Product Engineer plays a key role in optimizing product design processes, tools, and documentation to drive consistent productivity improvements and support efficient manufacturing. This position focuses on owning and enhancing the part, assembly, and print creation workflows, standardizing designs, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives that streamline engineering change management and strengthen collaboration across operations, manufacturing, and sales.

Responsibilities

• Own and optimize the processes and tools related to part, assembly, and print creation, as well as engineering change management, with a goal of achieving 5% productivity gains year over year.
• Enable efficient and repeatable creation of product design documentation for use by customers and internal operations teams.
• Design and implement mistake-proof enhancements to print creation processes using knowledge-based engineering concepts.
• Consolidate and standardize designs to limit variability and improve manufacturing efficiency.
• Lead day-to-day improvement and optimization of drafting tools, tool chains, and processes, including but not limited to DriveWorks, SolidWorks, PDM (vault), Engineering Change Orders, and their integration and handoffs with other tools.
• Manage projects that utilize third-party vendors to execute tool and process improvements, ensuring alignment with engineering and operational needs.
• Ensure assigned projects remain on schedule, within scope, and within budget, while delivering the desired outcomes.
• Create process improvement roadmaps, define project scopes to achieve the desired future state, and prioritize projects based on impact and feasibility.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, methods of manufacturing, sales, and other internal process stakeholders to optimize the tool chain both upstream and downstream.
• Support the communication of design concepts, detailed designs, and product release information to internal and external manufacturing partners.
• Provide ongoing technical and engineering guidance to manufacturing partners to support quality, efficiency, and standardization.
• Complete design analysis to drive standardization, efficiency, and continuous improvement into the product development process.

Essential Skills

• Mechanical engineering expertise with strong understanding of product design, assemblies, and manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on experience with DriveWorks for automation and configuration of design workflows.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks for 3D modeling, drafting, and creation of detailed engineering prints.
• Experience with Product Data Management (PDM) systems, including vault management and engineering change order processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives within engineering or manufacturing environments.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, scheduling, scope definition, budgeting, and vendor coordination.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, mechanical drawings, and manufacturing documentation accurately.
• Experience working with ERP systems and related software, including tools such as Cadlink.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and shop floor control applications.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments such as manufacturing, sales, and engineering.
• Proven experience managing manufacturing processes and leading or influencing engineering teams.

Additional Qualifications

• Preferred Bachelor's Degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering.
• Expertise in 5S methodologies to maintain organized and efficient workspaces.
• Strong understanding and practical application of Lean Principles in engineering and manufacturing settings.
• Experience in process improvement and tooling optimization for assemblies and production workflows.
• Experience collaborating with third-party vendors on tool and process improvement projects.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex design and process issues and implement effective solutions.
• Comfort working in a growing organization with evolving processes and rapid opportunities for professional growth.
• Ability to drive standardization across product designs to reduce variability and support scalable manufacturing.

Work Environment

This role is based onsite in a new manufacturing facility that offers a modern, technology-driven environment focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement. The Product Engineer works closely with cross-functional teams on the shop floor and in engineering spaces, using tools such as SolidWorks, DriveWorks, PDM systems, ERP platforms, and shop floor control applications. The facility supports a culture of growth, strong internal benefits, and a rapid path for career advancement, with an emphasis on collaboration, lean practices, and ongoing process optimization.

Location: Waconia, MN (fully onsite position)
Type: Permanent

Pay & Benefits

• Pay range: $90,000.00 – $110,000.00/yr
• Strong internal benefits including unlimited PTO