Product Engineer

About the role

Carex is working with an education industry focused partner to hire a Product Engineer who will help bring the next generation of innovative products to life. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, this role is ideal for an engineer who thrives in New Product Development (NPD), enjoys turning concepts into real-world products, and embraces iteration as an essential part of the development process. The Product Engineer will own the engineering journey from concept through production and continuous improvement, working in a hands-on, collaborative environment where design meets manufacturing. This position is expected to work onsite in the Madison, Wisconsin, area full time, with flexibility to work from home occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support New Product Development (NPD) initiatives from ideation through production launch.
• Translate product concepts into detailed engineering designs using SolidWorks and similar tools.
• Partner cross-functionally with design, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to ensure product feasibility and efficient production.
• Drive prototyping, testing, validation, and iterative development cycles.
• Optimize products for cost, durability, manufacturability, performance, and sustainability.
• Ensure products comply with applicable industry standards, including BIFMA requirements.
• Troubleshoot production and manufacturing challenges and develop effective engineering solutions.
• Identify and implement opportunities to continuously improve existing products.
• Manage multiple engineering projects and priorities throughout the product development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in Product Engineering, Design Engineering, Product Development Engineering, or a similar discipline, ideally within an NPD-focused environment.
• Strong proficiency with 3D CAD software, with SolidWorks preferred.
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and quality standards.
• Experience with furniture design or wood manufacturing is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated ability to move products from initial concept through prototyping and production.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Collaborative approach with strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across design, sourcing, and manufacturing functions.
• A mindset that embraces experimentation, iteration, continuous learning, and improvement.

Pay

$90,000 – $110,000 base salary + 15% target annual bonus