Product Design Engineer
Location: Batavia, Illinois
Country: United States
Category: Engineering
Workplace Location: Onsite
Employment Type: Direct Hire/Perm
Posted Date: August 13, 2026
Job ID: 650805
Job Description
Product Design Engineer
New Product Engineer
Position Summary
The New Product Engineer is responsible for leading the engineering development of innovative commercial Food & Beverage equipment from concept through product launch. This role works cross-functionally with Product Management, Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to develop products that meet customer needs, industry regulations, and company growth objectives.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with experience in product development, strong project management skills, and a passion for bringing innovative products to market.
Compensation will be based upon experience: 110K-150K plus bonus
Key Responsibilities
- Lead engineering efforts for new product development projects from concept through commercial launch.
- Collaborate with Product Management to translate Voice of Customer (VOC) into product requirements and engineering specifications.
- Design and develop commercial food service equipment using sound engineering principles focused on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
- Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documentation.
- Develop and evaluate prototypes through laboratory and field testing.
- Conduct design reviews, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and risk assessments throughout the development process.
- Manage engineering timelines and deliverables to support new product launch schedules.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure products are optimized for efficient production and assembly.
- Work with Supply Chain to identify and qualify components and suppliers while driving cost reduction initiatives.
- Support product validation, certification, and compliance with applicable UL, NSF, DOE, EPA, CSA, CE, and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
- Coordinate engineering changes and product improvements after launch based on customer feedback and field performance.
- Participate in value engineering projects to improve product quality, reliability, and profitability.
- Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Manufacturing teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
- 3-8 years of experience in product design or new product development, preferably within the commercial Food & Beverage equipment industry.
- Experience managing multiple product development projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software.
- Knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding, castings, plastics, electrical components, and manufacturing processes.
- Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
- Experience creating engineering documentation including BOMs, engineering change orders (ECOs), and technical specifications.
- Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and project management abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing cooking, holding, refrigeration, beverage, or countertop foodservice equipment.
- Working knowledge of electrical systems, controls, gas systems, refrigeration systems, or thermal engineering.
- Experience with stage-gate product development processes.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Key Competencies
- Product Innovation
- New Product Development (NPD)
- Mechanical Design
- Project Management
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Customer Focus
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
- Problem Solving
- Continuous Improvement
- Cost Optimization
Success Measures
- Successfully launch new products on schedule and within budget.
- Deliver products that meet customer expectations for performance, quality, and reliability.
- Improve time-to-market through effective project management and collaboration.
- Reduce manufacturing costs through value engineering and design optimization.
- Support company growth by developing innovative products that expand market share and strengthen the product portfolio.
#tpgsj
EEO Statement
The staffing industry has seen an increase in people falsely representing themselves as recruiters to gather personal information from job seekers. For your safety, do not provide sensitive data to anyone you have not spoken with thoroughly, never provide banking information during the application process, and always double check the email address of the Recruiter to ensure it’s from an official Planet domain (@theplanetgroup.com or @launchcg.com) - and not a domain with an alternative extension like .net, .org, or .jobs.
The Planet Group and our companies are equal opportunity employers. It is our practice not to discriminate against any employee or applicant based on any criteria, condition or basis protected by laws or regulations in the locations where we do business. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion enable us to better meet our mission and values while serving our clients across the globe. If you have a disability or handicap and would like us to accommodate you in any reasonable way, please inform your recruiter, or contact us, so that we can discuss the appropriate alternatives available.
Apply Now
Apply Via
Stay Up To Date With The Latest Jobs.
Similar Jobs
About The Planet Group
The Planet Group is a global professional services firm delivering strategic staffing and advisory solutions. We operate at the intersection of talent and transformation – connecting the right people with the right opportunities in the areas of technology, engineering, accounting & finance, digital marketing, and manufacturing.
As one of the largest staffing companies in the US, we operate with a global reach and a performance-first mindset. We partner with clients to move fast, stay agile, and drive measurable results – building high-impact teams that fuel transformation and growth.
