Senior Product Innovation Engineer

About the role

UFP Construction is a trusted partner to builders, delivering innovative building components and construction solutions. As a Senior Product Innovation Engineer, you will transform ideas into commercially viable products by combining engineering, design, and manufacturing expertise. This role leads products from concept through prototyping, validation, manufacturing, and commercialization while partnering with Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Sales, and Business Units.

Location: Onsite in Charlotte, NC.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities throughout the product development lifecycle, from concept through commercialization.
• Translate customer needs, market insights, and business objectives into innovative, manufacturable product solutions.
• Develop 3D models, assemblies, drawings, specifications, and technical documentation using SolidWorks and related tools.
• Lead prototyping, testing, validation, and field evaluations to ensure product performance and readiness.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Sourcing, and suppliers to optimize materials, processes, tooling, cost, and scalability.
• Create installation instructions, assembly guides, technical documentation, and visual work instructions using SolidWorks Composer and other tools.
• Serve as the engineering lead on cross-functional innovation projects and communicate technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Research emerging technologies, materials, manufacturing methods, and industry trends to identify new product opportunities.
• Manage multiple development projects, timelines, risks, and deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Product Design, Manufacturing, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of product development, engineering, manufacturing, or product innovation experience.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks and 3D CAD.
• Experience designing products for manufacturing.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in construction, building products, manufacturing, or prefabrication.
• Experience with Design Thinking, product testing, commercialization, or project management.
• Knowledge of structural principles, manufacturing processes, and product development standards.
• SolidWorks Composer and technical animation experience.
• DriveWorks, PDM, or design automation experience.
• AI-assisted engineering and design experience.
• DFM/DFA or Lean Manufacturing knowledge.
• Hands-on construction, fabrication, or manufacturing experience.

Success in This Role

Success means bringing innovative products from concept to market while balancing customer value, performance, cost, quality, manufacturability, and speed to market.