Lead Product Engineer

Role Summary

Lead Product Engineer

At our location in Portage, Michigan (North Campus)

The Lead Product Engineer will lead the design and development of liquid filtration products from concept through validation and production launch. This role requires extensive casting development experience and close collaboration with casting suppliers, manufacturing, testing, CAE, customers, and global engineering teams. The engineer will provide technical leadership, resolve casting and product-development challenges, support cost and process improvements, and help mentor other product development engineers.

Main Tasks

• Lead the design and development of liquid filtration system products, conceptualizing complex designs to meet internal/external specifications, cost, and timelines.
• Maintain a high level of accountability and responsiveness in customer communication, ensuring customer satisfaction and positioning the company as the preferred choice.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate product designs, determine feasibility, and minimize costs for development and manufacturing.
• Work closely with operations to align product designs with production strategies, understanding and optimizing process capabilities.
• Coordinate Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) activities for product design validation, analyzing results to optimize performance, robust manufacturing, and cost.
• Collaborate with Testing to establish validation methods, interpret results, and recommend design changes based on test outcomes.
• Work with Global Business and Technology Solutions (GBTS) for engineering and CAD tasks.
• Mentor and delegate tasks to assist in the development of PDE I and PDE II team members.
• Actively participate and support Kaizen/DLS workshops and contribute to annual objectives.
• Complete required tasks for each Gate as per the xSEP process.

Your Profile

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience as a Lead Product Engineer.
• Extensive casting development experience, including DFM collaboration with casting suppliers, filling simulation interpretation, and casting defect root-cause resolution.
• Familiarity with Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis (DFMEA).
• Basic understanding of internal combustion engine systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Effective organization and task management to meet project deadlines.
• Availability for overnight domestic travel (10-20%).

Preferred Skills:

• Casting tooling and process knowledge, including die casting, investment casting, sand casting, and permanent mold, as well as tool design, gating/riser systems, and process parameter optimization.
• Experience with NX, CATIA, or Creo.
• Background in the automotive and/or heavy-duty industry.
• Knowledge of plastics engineering.
• Expertise in metal stamping.
• Previous involvement in filtration projects.