Product Engineer

About the role

The Product Engineer plays a key role in supporting major customers in the distribution sector by executing testing, validation, and product development activities under the guidance of senior engineers. This position focuses on taking approved concepts through rigorous engineering validation, collaborating with third-party testers and suppliers, and driving cost-effective, reliable solutions in a light manufacturing and supply chain-driven environment. This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wood Dale, IL.

Responsibilities

• Support large distribution-focused customers by executing engineering tasks and projects once product concepts have been approved.
• Perform comprehensive load testing, cycle testing, factory acceptance tests (FATs), and other validation activities to ensure product performance and reliability.
• Run racking and related systems through test cycles to validate performance, identify failure modes, and define corrective actions based on DFMEA and PFMEA principles.
• Develop and maintain detailed tolerance specifications, coating testing protocols, and materials specifications and selection criteria.
• Prepare clear and accurate scopes of work for third-party testing partners, and review, validate, and confirm that their test outputs are reasonable and aligned with expected results.
• Research and propose lower-cost, more reliable methods and solutions for customers, working closely with suppliers in a light manufacturing and supply chain-driven environment.
• Collaborate with overseas suppliers and the internal supply chain team to clarify engineering drawings and prints, evaluate material substitutions, and support negotiations with suppliers.
• Create and manage engineering drawings, assemblies, and bills of materials (