Product Development Engineer

Position: Product Development Engineer

Reports to: Director of Global Engineering

Job Summary:
Develop and implement into production automotive hose, industrial hose and hose assemblies which meet and exceed internal and external customer expectations. Provide technical support to our customers, manufacturing, and sales.

The Product Development Engineer is accountable for the design of hose/hose assemblies so that they meet all customer and FRS specifications. The incumbent works closely with sales, application engineering, manufacturing, customers, and outside suppliers to ensure that the designs meet all specifications and are completed in time to meet all deadlines. Technical service to the customer includes oral and written communication at the engineering level. Formal presentations are essential. The incumbent provides assistance to manufacturing to assure processability and quality of hose products. Project assignments, with their definitions, are made throughout the year and are revised as required. The level of completion of these projects and the ability to resolve problems as they arise are the key elements to success.


Tasks & Responsibilities:
Develop new and improved products to meet customer or company specifications recommending the optimum process and equipment.
Maintain product, process, and material knowledge through coordination of sample builds, engineering analysis, and testing.
Enhance current products; specifications, validation procedures, and FMEA’s to reflect changing customer requirements to continuously improve product performance and product costs through design, processes, and material.
Investigate and develop specific actions on issues, problems, and opportunities as identified by production, quality, suppliers, or customers utilizing problem solving skills.
Coordinate and/or participate on assigned projects utilizing project management techniques and APQP processes
Provide estimates, engineering analysis, and guidance in the process of cost estimating requests on improved or new products in order to capture new sales
Develop and use TS16949/QS9000/ ISO14001 procedures and workplace instructions to meet quality objectives set forth in the FRS Quality manual.
Maintain an awareness of industry trends, competitive activity, and technological advancements to provide sound advise to peers and other functional groups. Investigate competitive intellectual property. File disclosures on novel technology
Create and maintain the engineering database in order to provide design standards/guidelines for future hose/hose assemblies to eliminate recurring problems and prevent new failures.
Aggressively push continuous improvement. Present personal development topics/ideas to the team and offer suggestions on how to better satisfy our internal and external customers
Additional Responsibilities
Help define and support the need for capital equipment
Travel to PKOH sites and customer locations as needed
Have a positive impact on all company personnel, customers, suppliers, etc.

Education/Training/Experience required:
Requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering; Mechanical or Chemical
5 years’ experience in hose development preferred
5 years’ experience in hose and hose fitting interaction(crimping) preferred
OEM experience preferred
Fluent in English
Physical Requirements:
Standing – 50%
Walking – 50%
Reaching – 25%
Lifting – 20 pounds
Show more Show less