Product Design Engineer - Senior Level

The Product Design Engineer at Midland Manufacturing provides leadership, technical expertise, and complex project management in pursuit of new product development (NPD), with a focus on valves and fittings for rail tank cars. The role requires advanced knowledge of fluid dynamics, mechanical design, material properties, and manufacturing techniques. The incumbent will be called upon to manage the technical aspects of NPD in stages that include understanding industry and customer needs, designing for quality and manufacturability, prototyping, testing, and working with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to obtain product approvals and conduct service trials.

This role requires the incumbent to communicate effectively and influentially with a wide variety of technical and non-technical individuals and teams, including manufacturing technicians, senior executives, regulatory authorities, internal and external customers. Finally, the role requires the ability to mentor and teach other engineers in NPD. Product Design Engineering focuses on designing and developing new or existing products, components, or assemblies.

Applying engineering principles to develop mechanical products that meet customer technical/functional specifications as well as manufacturing cost/efficiency requirements. Conducting mathematical modelling to determine if proposed designs are technically feasible. Supporting and participating in the design, test, modification, fabrication, and assembly of prototypes. Will be involved with designing product specific manufacturing production processes and equipment. Applies advanced knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience.

Responsibilities typically include Managing projects / processes, working independently with limited supervision. Coaching and reviewing the work of lower-level professionals. Problems faced are difficult and sometimes complex.

• Design:
  Oversee and provide expertise for NPD; support downstream requirements including regulatory approvals, product marketing, manufacturing, and product maintenance. Take ownership of design control and modification activities ure compliance with stage gate NPD procedure in the Midland quality management system
• Document:
  Ensure all NPD activities are rigorously documented
• Communicate:
  Inform, persuade, and explain technical information to a diverse audience verbally and in writing. Effectively illustrate concepts, design details, operating features, and process inputs and outputs in formal presentations and 3D/2D images
• Manage:
  Coordinate multiple complex projects simultaneously. Effectively delegate tasks and activities. Manage the work of junior engineers and cross functional teams including individuals from product management, account management, quality assurance, manufacturing engineering, material procurement, and production supervisors
• Lead:
  Generate innovative ideas for NPD responsive to industry needs and wants. Develop a forward-looking, visionary strategy for NPD. Persuade executives to support efforts. Provide end-to-end leadership of NPD with or without formal supervisory authority over team members. Teach and mentor junior engineers in NPD. Work with minimal to no supervision.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required. Master's degree preferred
• Five or more years' experience in NPD of fluidic systems. Experience in liquid and vapor transfer valve design development strongly desired
• Proven track record leading and delivering high impact NPD projects from concept to revenue
• Two or more years in a manufacturing environment. Experience in valve manufacturing preferred
• Two or more years in the railroad…