Product Development Engineer

Product Development Engineer – First Quality Baby Products (Macon, GA)

First Quality is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead product development projects, select technologies, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to create new absorbent product systems for our Baby Products site.

• Participate as a member of the Product Development team; execute projects in a timely, diligent, safe, and professional manner, and contribute to the growth of the team and department.
• Investigate new technologies and apply them to baby diapers and pants.
• Assist in planning, conducting, analyzing, and interpreting technical services.
• Plan and execute commercial and pilot line trials.
• Evaluate analytical data and communicate findings to non‑technical personnel.
• Develop proprietary technology through equipment or process changes to meet evolving customer needs at the lowest cost.
• Organize the Product Development pipeline and consumer testing plans.
• Manage Product Development capital projects.
• Support corporate proprietary technology by documenting and patenting novel ideas.
• Collaborate with the Product Development Leader to set project objectives, budgets, and timelines.
• Coach and develop indirect reports to enhance team performance toward department objectives.

• Four‑year engineering degree (Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical) or equivalent; additional business studies preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of Project, Product, or Process Engineering experience.
• 2–5 years in R&D or Product Development inventing, developing, and implementing new products.
• Experience in a lean manufacturing environment preferred.
• Knowledge of developing product systems for the retail market, preferably hygiene products.
• Familiarity with materials used in retail absorbent products (pulp, super‑absorbent polymers, nonwovens).
• Working knowledge of consumer product converting technologies for pulp, paper, and nonwoven materials.
• Experience with searching, evaluating, and filing patents.

• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Develop and organize multiple projects.
• Work with a diverse, cross‑functional team to deliver key objectives and timelines.
• Strong written and oral communication in English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, Minitab, and other office systems.
• Experience with Design of Experiments and statistical analysis.
• SAP knowledge preferred.
• Will travel 20–30% within the U.S. and internationally for product and process trials.

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities.
• Paid time off (minimum three weeks).
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting day one.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid parental leave.
• Dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2,500.
• Bundle‑of‑joy benefit – free diapers for new baby.
• Tuition assistance.
• Wellness program – up to $4,000 per year savings on insurance premiums.

First Quality is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.