NPI Engineer

I am recruiting on behalf of my client for an experienced NPI Engineer to join their Technical Services team.
My client designs and manufactures complex industrial computing, tablet and IT rack products, and this position will play a key role in taking new product developments from prototype and validation through to reliable, repeatable manufacturing.

The NPI Engineer will be responsible for the mechanical, electronic and manufacturing support aspects of introducing new products into production and the supply chain. This is a highly practical technical position combining prototype builds, testing, troubleshooting, manufacturing engineering and detailed production documentation.
As the NPI Engineer, you will work closely with design, production, project and other cross-functional teams to identify manufacturability issues early, reduce technical risk and ensure products are ready for successful transfer into production.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing the introduction of new products into production
• Identifying and resolving manufacturability issues before full-rate production
• Supporting NRE estimates and pre-sales design activities
• Preparing NPI build plans for OIB and pilot builds
• Developing detailed manufacturing work instructions using build photographs and learning from initial assemblies
• Designing and developing tooling, fixtures and supporting documentation
• Supporting process FMEAs
• Participating in design reviews and recommending improvements to manufacturability, assembly methods and cost
• Defining product and process acceptance criteria, including pass/fail criteria and test limits
• Developing robust, repeatable and efficient manufacturing methods
• Building new products and prototypes with minimal or no previous instruction
• Analysing build and test failures and recommending corrective actions
• Recording and reporting bugs, non-conformances and technical issues
• Supporting root-cause investigations
• Training manufacturing personnel on new products and processes
• Supporting development verification testing on industrial computers, tablets and IT rack products

The NPI Engineer will also have significant involvement in product readiness and transfer to manufacturing, ensuring documentation, validation evidence, approved work instructions and training are completed before production handover.
A strong hands-on technical capability is essential. The role will involve:

• Design, testing, inspection, fabrication, modification and assembly
• Troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems and sub-systems
• Working with electronics and electro-mechanical systems
• Prototype models and experimental design circuitry
• Specialist test equipment, tools and test fixtures
• System and component-level fault finding
• Working from schematics, diagrams, layouts, plans and technical instructions

As an NPI Engineer, you will also take responsibility for maintaining an effective NPI laboratory environment, ensuring equipment, tools, test equipment and prototype parts are available to support new projects and sustaining activities.
The successful NPI Engineer will need to be comfortable working cross-functionally and capable of combining practical engineering ability with structured documentation, problem-solving and effective communication.
I am particularly interested in speaking with engineers who enjoy getting hands-on with new products, understanding how and why they work, identifying problems during prototype builds and then developing practical solutions that allow those products to be manufactured consistently and efficiently.

If you are an experienced NPI Engineer looking for a technically varied position covering prototyping, testing, manufacturing engineering and new product introduction, I would be keen to hear from you.
Ian Broadhurst
(phone number removed)
(url removed)