Principal Product Development Engineer
We are seeking a Principal Product Development Engineer to drive the technical vision, architecture, and execution of next‑generation, customer‑specific sensor products. This role is a key technical leadership position responsible for translating complex customer requirements into robust, manufacturable solutions, while advancing our capabilities in finite element analysis, advanced mechanical design, and robotics-enabled applications.
This engineer will operate with a high degree of autonomy, serve as a technical authority within the organization, and mentor engineers while partnering directly with customers, manufacturing, and commercial teams. The position offers exposure to a diverse application portfolio spanning agriculture, robotics, medical, and emerging automation markets, with a strong emphasis on innovation, analytical rigor, and system-level thinking.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership in the design and development of customized sensor solutions from concept through production release
- Serve as a subject matter expert in finite element analysis (FEA), leading structural, thermal, and fatigue analyses to validate designs and guide material and geometry decisions
- Develop and review advanced mechanical designs for performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost
- Partner directly with customers and the sales organization to translate application requirements into technically sound, cost‑effective product solutions
- Lead technical trade studies, risk assessments, and design reviews
- Drive innovation in robotics and automation-related sensor applications, including dynamic loading, precision motion environments, and integration considerations
- Collaborate with manufacturing teams to develop scalable production processes, validation methods, and test protocols
- Identify, evaluate, and validate materials for demanding environmental, structural, and regulatory requirements
- Generate and review system-level concepts, detailed designs, cost models, and performance specifications
- Support and influence compliance with ISO 9000 quality systems and design control processes
- Mentor and technically guide junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, analysis methods, and best practices
- Actively contribute to cross-functional and customer-facing meetings as a technical representative of the organization
- Travel to customer sites and manufacturing locations as required to support development, validation, and issue resolution
Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; Master’s or PhD strongly preferred
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical product development, with demonstrated ownership of complex electromechanical systems
- Deep expertise in stress analysis and finite element modeling, including nonlinear, dynamic, and fatigue analyses
- Extensive hands-on experience with FEA tools (Creo Simulate preferred; ANSYS, Abaqus, or similar acceptable)
- Proven track record of leading technically complex programs from concept through production
- Experience designing for robotics, automation, or dynamically loaded systems strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and design for reliability
- Experience influencing technical direction and mentoring engineers without formal authority
- Solid grasp of the business implications of technical decisions, including cost, risk, and customer value
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including direct customer interaction
Personal Skills & Competencies
- Advanced problem-solving skills with the ability to address ambiguous, open-ended technical challenges
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex projects simultaneously
- Strong collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions and drive technical rigor
- Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively across engineering, manufacturing, sales, and leadership teams
- Proficiency with standard PC tools (MS Word, Excel, Windows) and enterprise systems such as SAP
