Project Engineer, Product Engineer

Description

At Northern Tool + Equipment, we design and develop products that help customers tackle tough jobs every day. We're looking for a skilled Project Engineer who enjoys leading product development projects, solving complex engineering challenges, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products to market.

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of projects from concept through production launch while influencing product design, quality, manufacturability, cost, and customer satisfaction. If you're a hands-on engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys driving results through collaboration, we'd like to meet you.

As a Project Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for new product development and continuous improvement initiatives across Northern Tool + Equipment's owned brands and strategic product categories.

• Lead multiple product development projects simultaneously from concept through production launch.
• Drive technical execution of project deliverables while ensuring alignment with business objectives, quality standards, schedules, and budgets.
• Collaborate with engineering, product management, sourcing, quality, manufacturing, and supplier partners throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, technical requirements, specifications, and development documentation.
• Guide projects through a structured stage-gate product development process.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and evaluate emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Lead cross-functional project teams and influence stakeholders to achieve project objectives without direct authority.
• Facilitate engineering design reviews and support robust product development practices.
• Apply engineering tools and methodologies such as:
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
  • Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
  • Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA)
  • Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA)
  • Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
  • Tolerance stack-up analysis
  • Design Review Based on Failure Mode (DRBFM)
• Support manufacturing strategy development to improve quality, reliability, delivery, and cost performance.
• Monitor tooling investments, product costs, and project expenditures throughout development.
• Coordinate product testing, validation, prototyping, and issue resolution activities.
• Analyze manufacturing and field performance issues and recommend effective engineering solutions.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations, project updates, and recommendations to management and stakeholders.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to engineers and designers assigned to project teams.
• Support product launches and provide technical expertise to marketing, sales, service, and other business functions.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong engineer who can balance engineering excellence with project execution.

You will be successful if you:

• Take ownership and drive projects to completion.
• Build strong relationships and effectively manage by influence.
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Enjoy solving complex engineering and manufacturing challenges.
• Can effectively prioritize multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• Focus on delivering high-quality products and exceptional customer experiences.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Three or more years of engineering experience involving product development, product design, manufacturing, or related engineering environments.
• Experience leading engineering projects and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive results without direct authority.
• Customer-focused mindset and commitment to quality.

• Experience developing consumer products, industrial equipment, outdoor power equipment, tools, or similar products.
• Proficiency with Creo (Pro/ENGINEER) or comparable 3D CAD software.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) experience.
• Experience with GD&T, DFMEA, PFMEA, DFM, DRBFM, and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Experience utilizing formal project management tools and methodologies.
• Experience working with global suppliers and manufacturing partners.