Senior Product Development Engineer - CI

Senior Product Development Engineer - CI

The Senior Product Development Engineer oversees the design, development, and validation of product enhancements from initial concept through commercial launch. This role serves as a technical subject matter expert and mentor, executing continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives to strengthen business performance.

Primary Responsibilities

• Engineering Design & Technical Precision: Lead the development and implementation of product changes. Utilize advanced engineering methodologies, including DFMEA, Design of Experiments (DOE), tolerance stack-up analysis, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Project Lifecycle Management: Manage comprehensive system design requirements to ensure products transition predictably from the development phase into large-scale production.
• Operational Collaboration: Partner with Supply Chain, manufacturing staff, and external vendors to define specifications and source raw materials, components, and final assemblies.
• Validation & Quality Assurance: Develop Design Verification Plans (DVPs), coordinate rigorous testing, and execute plant trials to validate fabrication, assembly, and installation processes.
• Cross-Functional Support: Provide technical guidance to Manufacturing and Operations during critical launch phases. Collaborate with the Quality department to resolve internal and external product issues.
• Strategic Problem Solving: Apply lean product development tools and systematic critical thinking to continuous improvement projects and complex troubleshooting.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Champion engineering excellence by coaching junior staff and leading technical peer reviews and design evaluations.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Engineering (Mechanical preferred) from an accredited university
• Minimum of 8 years product design and development experience
• New product development launch and Stage Gate experience
• Proven track record of delivering products and/or processes to launch with differentiated innovative fit form and function and/or reduced cost
• Experience with 3-D Parametric Solid Modeling (Solid Edge or Solid Works is a plus), Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Significant cross functional experience in interfacing with sourcing, quality, and manufacturing within product development, cost-out, continuous improvement and other business-led initiatives
• Superior written and oral communication skills
• Strong strategic thinking skills
• Desire to work hands-on, prototype and troubleshoot proactively

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. degree in Engineering (Mechanical)
• Solidworks certification
• Ability to perform tolerance stack-ups (using Sigmetrix or similar), review process capability and manage changes accordingly
• Experience with extrusions (Aluminum and plastic, both single and co-extrusion) & similar manufacturing methods
• Experience with plastic materials (fiberglass composites, thermoplastics or similar preferred) & manufacturing methods such as injection molding
• Experience with weather seals and similar materials/profiles
• Predictive engineering and analysis experience using finite element analysis (FEA), hand calculation, or similar (Ansys, Abaqus, Solidworks FEA)
• Superior knowledge of applied mechanics
• Experience in vinyl windows and/or storm and entry doors, or building materials is a plus
• Experience with metals machining, casting, forging, and brazing
• Experience with DC motors
• Experience with water quality and water chemistry
• Experience in hardware (handle sets, hinges, etc.) is a plus
• Experience interfacing with intellectual property counsel

Additional Information

Fortune Brands believes in fair and equitable pay. A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is Hiring Pay Range: $80,000 USD - $126,500 USD. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location.

In addition to base salary, employees will participate in either an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role-based sales incentive plan.

At Fortune Brands, we support the overall health and wellness of our associates by offering comprehensive, competitive benefits that prioritize all aspects of wellbeing and provide flexibility for our teammates' unique needs. This includes robust health plans, a market-leading 401(k) program with a company contribution, product discounts, flexible time off benefits, adoption benefits, and more. We offer numerous ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) to foster a sense of belonging for all associates.

Fortune Brands is built on industry-leading brands and innovation within the high-growth categories of water, outdoors and security. The Company makes innovative products for residential and commercial environments, with a growing focus on digital solutions and products that add luxury, contribute to safety and enhance…