Product Development Engr

Indirect Newton, NC, US

The Product Development Engineer I is an entry-level role within the New Product Development (NPD) team. The role completes defined engineering assignments and supports the design, development, testing, release, and continuous improvement of Retail, Digital, Access, and Material Handling products under the guidance of experienced engineering team members.

Working across the full product development lifecycle, the Product Development Engineer I collaborates with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Project Management to help deliver practical, cost-effective, manufacturable, and innovative solutions that meet customer and business needs.

WNA’s vision is to be a leading entrepreneurial player in terms of market share, agility, and game-changing solutions. WNA is a solution provider, creating value along the supply chain of our customers, from online purchase to their customers.

WNA is headquartered in the Charlotte Metro Area, North Carolina. With around 500 employees and ~$200M of sales, WNA focuses on the retail and distribution market segments with marquee customers such as Walmart, Amazon, and the majority of large grocers and retailers.

In addition to being the largest manufacturer of shopping carts in North America, WNA has three additional main product segments as well as a Service business, providing turnkey solutions for customer guidance (Access Systems), Shelving & Fixtures, and Material Handling products.

Access Solutions provides sophisticated customer guidance and loss prevention systems for major retailers. With German-engineered products and a strong installed base, this segment focuses on protecting existing market share while expanding into adjacent opportunities in smart retail, autonomous store technology, and digital integration.

Additionally, WNA offers a range of digital solutions integrated into our products, including advanced shopping cart containment systems, smart exit gate technology, and innovations for autonomous and semi-autonomous retail stores. We are continuously expanding and enhancing our digital offerings to meet evolving customer needs and drive industry advancement.

WNA is part of the Wanzl Group, headquartered in Germany, and has 12 plants in 8 countries, providing comprehensive, solutions-driven service and expert knowledge of local markets for customers across the globe through their 360° service.

• Complete assigned product design and engineering deliverables from concept through production release and continuous improvement, including 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, assembly documentation, and packaging drawings, with guidance and technical review from experienced engineering team members.
• Maintain accurate product data, engineering documentation, specifications, revision records, and technical files in applicable CAD/PDM systems to support configuration control, traceability, and data integrity.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Project Management to understand product requirements and support project objectives, cost targets, and customer expectations.
• Own defined engineering tasks, components, subsystems, and low-complexity product changes while supporting broader NPD projects through the applicable Product Gate Review (PGR) process; complete engineering deliverables, participate in design reviews, identify technical risks, and communicate status.
• Support engineering analyses, feasibility studies, competitive benchmarking, value engineering, and technology evaluations to improve product performance, manufacturability, reliability,…