Production Engineer

Production Design Engineer

Job Description
The Production Design Engineer serves as the primary technical authority for Weathermatic’s manufactured product portfolio, ensuring production continuity, material integrity, and design-for-manufacturing excellence across internal operations and contract manufacturers. This role acts as the engineering hub between design, manufacturing, and supply chain — the person contract manufacturers call when a production issue arises, and the person who understands the “why” behind every material choice, tolerance, and process decision in the product line.
Job Responsibilities
Own material specifications and qualification for all production components — plastics (ABS formulations, UV inhibitor/flame retardant balance, UL compliance), elastomers (EPDM diaphragm compounds), and metals (stainless steel alloy selection, magnetic properties, coating processes)
Serve as primary engineering contact for contract manufacturers; evaluate production issues, authorize holds, and drive root-cause resolution when quality deviations occur
Review and approve injection mold designs — gating, insert molding, parting lines, draft angles — with enough experience to identify issues before tooling is cut
Manage batch qualification processes including AQL testing protocols, inventory staging cycles, and release criteria for solenoid assemblies and valve components
Evaluate and qualify alternative materials and suppliers to reduce sole-source risk and improve supply chain resilience
Maintain product design rationale documentation — the institutional knowledge behind material choices, tolerances, and process decisions across the product line
Support cost-driven design trade-off analysis without compromising field reliability in outdoor, UV-exposed, high-temperature environments
Collaborate with quality engineering on field failure analysis using tools such as Gauss meters, tensile testing, and environmental aging studies
Personal Abilities
Deep technical curiosity with an instinct for diagnosing production issues — someone who sees a failed part and immediately wants to understand the material, process, and environmental factors
Experienced judgment in balancing competing material requirements (e.g., UV stability vs. flame retardancy, cost vs. availability) without over-engineering
Strong communicator who can serve as the technical bridge between contract manufacturers, design engineering, and leadership
Self-directed and decisive — comfortable authorizing production holds and making time-sensitive material or process calls
Team oriented with the ability to mentor junior engineers and transfer institutional product knowledge
Strong written and verbal communication skills

Minimum Qualifications
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related engineering discipline
7+ years in a production engineering, manufacturing engineering, or product sustaining role with direct responsibility for molded plastic and/or metal components
Demonstrated experience with solenoid, valve, or fluid-handling product design and manufacturing
Working knowledge of injection molding processes, mold review, and design-for-manufacturing principles
Understanding of polymer material science — specifically UV stability, flame retardancy, and environmental aging of outdoor-rated plastics
Experience managing contract manufacturer relationships and production quality across multiple sites
Familiarity with batch qualification, AQL sampling, and statistical process control
Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel)

Preferred Skills & Qualifications
Direct experience in irrigation, pump, or valve manufacturing (Hunter, Rainbird, Toro, or similar)
Knowledge of elastomer formulation and rubber molding (EPDM, silicone)
Experience with stainless steel alloy selection and magnetic property management for solenoid applications
Proficiency in Fusion 360 or equivalent 3D CAD (review and assessment capacity, not primary design)
Familiar with ERP/quality management systems (NetSuite or equivalent)
Experience with Keithley Instruments (Tektronix) or equivalent electronic test equipment — SMUs, DMMs, DAQ systems — for automated production testing and characterization
Experience with TestRail or equivalent test management platform (test case management, test run tracking, defect traceability)
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