Development Engineer

Position Summary

The Development Engineer is a critical member of Rock Exotica's Research & Development group, responsible for managing the full lifecycle of New Product Introduction (NPI) from concept approval through production release. This role bridges engineering design and manufacturing execution — owning project timelines, phase gate management, product data, documentation, internal part and assembly manufacturing, and part sourcing.

• Owns and maintains NPI project timelines from design release through production launch, ensuring milestones are clearly defined, tracked, and communicated.
• Manages the phase gate process; assembles gate review packages, tracks exit criteria, schedules reviews, and ensures all criteria are met before a project advances.
• Identifies and escalates risks to schedule, cost, or scope proactively.
• Serves as the primary NPI project management point of contact within R&D, coordinating across Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Maintains NPI asset management including project files, revision histories, and program records.
• Leads product improvement projects from initiation through release, applying the same phase gate discipline used for NPI to ensure changes are scoped, scheduled, and delivered without disrupting production.
• Owns drawing review and control. Manages revision tracking, formal drawing releases, and ECO (Engineering Change Order) coordination in collaboration with Design Engineers.
• Ensures all documentation is complete, approved, and production-ready prior to launch.
• Drives documentation updates and ECO change management for product improvement projects, ensuring drawings, BOMs, and work instructions stay accurate and aligned with released changes.
• Creates and maintains part numbers, assemblies, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) in the ERP system.
• Ensures ERP data is accurate, complete, and updated at each phase gate — including costs, lead times, and production readiness status.
• Collaborates with the Manufacturing Engineer on ERP router development; owns all non-routing ERP data entry.
• Leads sourcing activities for new components — issues RFQs, coordinates supplier qualification, and manages lead time planning for NPI programs.
• Partners with Operations and Purchasing to ensure materials are available for prototype builds, pilot runs, and production launch.
• Supports make/buy analyses and recommends sourcing strategies for new and custom parts.
• Manages the Approved Vendor List (AVL) for new products, ensuring second-source identification where appropriate.
• Collaborates closely with Design Engineers on drawing releases, BOM accuracy, and design-to-manufacturing transitions.
• Works with the Manufacturing Engineer to align process readiness, tooling timelines, and production documentation.
• Communicates project status, decisions, and risks to the R&D Manager and relevant stakeholders in a clear and timely manner.
• Represents R&D on cross-functional NPI teams and project reviews.
• Performs miscellaneous duties and special projects as assigned.
• Assists Design Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers in the creation of Part Drawings, Assembly Drawings, Work Instructions, Travelers, Tolerance Stack Analysis, DFMEA, PFMEA, and Product Test Reports.

• Strong understanding of Technical Rope Access equipment.
• Project management discipline: ability to build, maintain, and drive timelines across multiple concurrent programs.
• Organizational rigor: meticulous attention to detail in documentation, data entry, and revision control.
• Cross‑functional communication: able to translate between engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain stakeholders clearly and effectively.
• ERP proficiency: comfortable owning product data in a manufacturing ERP environment.
• Proactive problem solving: identifies and resolves issues before they become schedule risks.
• Sense of urgency and ability to drive projects to completion.
• Strong written communication skills: produces clear, accurate work instructions and documentation.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing…