<p>Principal Product Development Engineer</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Primary Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Provide technical leadership in the design and development of customized sensor solutions from concept through production release </li><li>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 </li><li>Develop and review advanced mechanical designs for performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost </li><li>Partner directly with customers and the sales organization to translate application requirements into technically sound, cost-effective product solutions </li><li>Lead technical trade studies, risk assessments, and design reviews </li><li>Drive innovation in robotics and automation-related sensor applications, including dynamic loading, precision motion environments, and integration considerations </li><li>Collaborate with manufacturing teams to develop scalable production processes, validation methods, and test protocols </li><li>Identify, evaluate, and validate materials for demanding environmental, structural, and regulatory requirements </li><li>Generate and review system-level concepts, detailed designs, cost models, and performance specifications </li><li>Support and influence compliance with ISO 9000 quality systems and design control processes </li><li>Mentor and technically guide junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, analysis methods, and best practices </li><li>Actively contribute to cross-functional and customer-facing meetings as a technical representative of the organization </li><li>Travel to customer sites and manufacturing locations as required to support development, validation, and issue resolution </li></ul> <p>Professional Qualifications</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering required; Master's or PhD strongly preferred </li><li>10+ years of experience in mechanical product development, with demonstrated ownership of complex electromechanical systems </li><li>Deep expertise in stress analysis and finite element modeling, including nonlinear, dynamic, and fatigue analyses </li><li>Extensive hands-on experience with FEA tools (Creo Simulate preferred; ANSYS, Abaqus, or similar acceptable) </li><li>Proven track record of leading technically complex programs from concept through production </li><li>Experience designing for robotics, automation, or dynamically loaded systems strongly preferred </li><li>Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and design for reliability </li><li>Experience influencing technical direction and mentoring engineers without formal authority </li><li>Solid grasp of the business implications of technical decisions, including cost, risk, and customer value </li><li>Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including direct customer interaction </li></ul> <p>Personal Skills & Competencies</p> <ul> <li>Advanced problem-solving skills with the ability to address ambiguous, open-ended technical challenges </li><li>Ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex projects simultaneously </li><li>Strong collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions and drive technical rigor </li><li>Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively across engineering, manufacturing, sales, and leadership teams </li><li>Proficiency with standard PC tools (MS Word, Excel, Windows) and enterprise systems such as SAP </li></ul>