Sr. Product Engineer

As a family-owned and operated company, we feel a special obligation to the employees who comprise our Taco family. We are committed to offering employees access to the tools necessary to live long and productive lives. We strive to instill in all of our employees:

• A positive mental attitude that helps us to be a leader in the industry
• A commitment to building strong relationships, both inside and outside the organization
• A desire to learn, grow, and contribute to moving our strategy forward
• A need to create and to innovate

Employment Type: Regular Full-Time

Shift: 1st Shift

Work Status: Hybrid

The Senior Product Engineer designs, develops and verifies new and existing products and platforms. They construct models and build prototypes, calculate and analyze test results, and prepare detailed reports with recommendations and conclusions. They develop and maintain technical expertise on advances and innovations in research and science. The Sr Product Engineer collaborates with other departments, such as manufacturing, quality, production and purchasing to ensure product design meets company goals.

In addition, this Senior role also coaches and mentors other engineers.

• Accurate determination and documentation of functional requirements for mechanical components and assemblies
• Effectively designed and documented mechanical components that meet requirements, including internal and regulatory standards
• Effective troubleshooting and resolution of mechanical problems in projects, production or service
• Organized and well-planned work with on time completion of deliverables

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the design and development and validation of new and existing products, ensuring technical and regulatory standards are met.
• Construct and test models and prototypes, analyze test results, and provide detailed reports with actionable recommendations.
• Write and maintain product specifications and design documentation.
• Perform basic and advanced engineering calculations to support design decisions and product specifications.
• Prepare comprehensive documentation including design processes, assembly instructions, product specifications, test plans and project findings.
• Ensure products comply with relevant industry and safety standards.
• Develop and maintain expertise in advances in research and science; apply this knowledge to improve products and processes.
• Mentor and coach other engineers, overseeing their work for quality and adherence to standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues in projects, production, or service stages.
• Provide technical leadership in material selection, design analysis, and testing.
• Create and manage engineering change orders (ECO), temporary change notices (TCN), and oversee the disposition of First Article Inspections (FAI) and Material Defect Reports (MDR).
• Conduct Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) to identify quality and reliability issues prior to production and ensure products meet cost targets and regulatory standards.
• Work closely with manufacturing, quality, and production teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and align with company quality standards.
• Write engineering standards to improve designs, troubleshooting, and assembly procedures.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in quality investigations (root cause analysis and problem solving). Develop solutions and issue formal recommendations.
• Drive new product designs and product modifications from initial design through production using effective use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools like Statistical, Motion, Finite Element Analysis.
• Lead technical design reviews of components and systems.
• Assist other departments in the preparation of manuals and sales literature on assigned projects; analyze historical and current designs to meet customer specifications.
• Coordinate with suppliers and participate in domestic and international visits to support project needs.
• Provide engineering support throughout the production process to resolve design-related issues and improve product performance.
• Drive product…