Product Engineer - R&D

Ready to combine engineering, innovation, and a passion for creating great products? Join Pure Fishing as a Product Engineer – Fishing Line and help develop the products that anglers around the world rely on.

In this role, you will work alongside R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and other teams to take new ideas from concept to production. If you enjoy solving problems, experimenting with new technologies, and seeing your ideas come to life, this could be a great catch!

We are seeking a hands‑on Product Development Engineer to join our team on‑site in Spirit Lake, Iowa and support the development, optimization, and commercialization of innovative fishing line products. This role will be responsible for taking products from concept and development through testing, process optimization, scale‑up, and successful transition into manufacturing.

The ideal candidate combines strong engineering fundamentals with practical problem‑solving skills and an interest in polymers, materials, manufacturing processes, and product performance. This position will work closely with Research & Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and external suppliers to develop products that meet performance, quality, reliability, manufacturability, and consumer requirements.

A key responsibility of this role is using Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and engineering principles to optimize product and process parameters and establish robust manufacturing conditions.

• Develop innovative product concepts and engineering solutions that address consumer needs, product requirements, and business objectives.
• Plan, execute, and coordinate engineering activities associated with the development and commercialization of fishing line products.
• Support the development of Nylon, Fluorocarbon, and Superline products from early‑stage concepts through commercialization and production.
• Evaluate product designs, prototypes, samples, and production trials for performance, reliability, quality, and manufacturability.
• Design and execute Design of Experiments (DOE) to identify critical product and process variables and optimize performance.
• Apply statistical analysis and engineering methods to establish product specifications, process parameters, measurement systems, and performance metrics.
• Support process development, scale‑up, and manufacturing trials to ensure products can be produced consistently and efficiently.
• Serve as a key technical liaison between R&D and Manufacturing, helping move developing products through the MTOP process and into production.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and other cross‑functional teams to identify and resolve technical issues during development and commercialization.
• Research and evaluate new technologies, materials, coatings, processes, and manufacturing methods that could improve product performance or create new product opportunities.
• Work with domestic and international suppliers to communicate technical requirements, evaluate materials and processes, and support the transfer of product specifications.
• Analyze project results, communicate findings, make technical recommendations, and drive projects toward completion.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry developments relevant to polymers, fibers, coatings, and fishing line performance.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed to support development projects, suppliers, testing, and manufacturing activities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technical Science, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 2+ years…