Senior Product Design Engineer

Senior Product Design Engineer

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Product Design Engineer will be the primary interface between the tool design engineers in our factory in Taiwan and our product marketing department in Virginia. This position will take new tool concepts and ideas and translate them into preliminary drawings which will be further developed between the two locations. The design engineer will be responsible for the completion of design projects all the way up to approval of the first off-tool production lot. The position will be a significant technical resource for internal as well as external customers – i.e. specific application and use of the tools and testers, troubleshooting, consulting with connectivity and cable manufacturers etc. Daily duties will also include administrative process tasks for manufacturing such as creation of BOMs and new product setups, product modifications and inspection of returned defective goods. The individual should be self-directed and motivated, a problem solver and a positive and active team player.

Ideal Candidate must have the experience and knowledge in communication wiring and connectivity technology and working knowledge of AutoCad software. This person will most likely come from the application engineering side in a connectivity company, (connectors or cable and wire or structured wiring equipment), more than the pure design engineering side. All 3 areas we have outlined are important - new product development, sales and application support and manufacturing support. Please only applicants who fit this description need apply.

COMPANY OVERVIEW
Paladin Tools is a fun, aggressive and innovative growing company with high quality products and service. Our mission is to : Sell More Tools, Make More Money, Have More Fun. All employees are rewarded for sales and profit growth. Respect, Integrity, Hard Work and Teamwork are all high on our list of core values. Every employee is a valued team member and expected to contribute their talent, gifts and skills towards the success of the company.

The generous benefit plan includes 3 weeks vacation, rich 401K plan, medical etc.

We design, manufacture and market quality hand tools and test equipment for professional communications installers through wholesalers and distributors as well as value tool solutions for retail consumer markets. We have been a leader in our market segment for the past 29 years.

Websites: www.paladin-tools.com; www.powerplaytools.com, www.datasharktools.com


RESPONSIBILITIES/TASKS
New Product Development
Work closely with the Marketing and Business Development Manager, the Product Team and outsourced engineering to develop new ideas from concept into production of innovative high quality ergonomic tools which have high sales potential and projected positive ROI consistent with company targets.Generate AutoCAD drawings of products, labels and packaging.Work closely with off-site design and manufacturing engineers to develop and finalize product designs, evaluate and approve prototypes and first off-tool production lots.Set up bill of materials and routings; manage the engineering change order process.Travel to vendors and sub-contactors for quality audits, capability evaluation and collaboration.

Sales and Application Support
Support customer service on technical phone calls, product performance issues and other technical issues from customers;Perform hands-on training for internal and external sales personnel;Support sales and marketing in development of training modules, technical datasheets, product instructions and other items for new & existing products;Support OEM customers with custom designs;Update tool and connector cross-references on a regular basis.

Manufacturing support
Initiate process improvements to achieve efficiencies in production assembly;Assist in the development of inspection criteria and quality control procedures;Participate in the resolution of nonconformance reports including root cause analysis and corrective action determination;Create and maintain database of barcode numbers and labels.
REQUIREMENTS


POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education, Skills and Abilities
Engineering degree or NICET certification preferredMinimum of 5 years experience in manufacturing companyExperience with AutoCAD required, SolidworksFamiliar with manufacturing processes including: injection molding, sheet-metal stamping, die casting, investment castingFamiliarity with wire and cable specialty tool designs desirableExperience and knowledge in communication technology (connectivity, wiring etc.) including the use of network installation tools requiredExcellent communication skillsEffective teamwork ability to actively participate on cross-functional project teams using a defined product development processKnowledge of and ability to use test and lab equipmentWorking knowledge of graphics software - CorelDraw, Quark and AdobeProficiency with Microsoft OfficeDetailed work style
REPORTING STRUCTURE
Position reports to VP Operations

COMPENSATION
Competitive salary + bonus incentives, based on qualifications and experience;A comprehensive benefits package is provided, including: Medical, dental, insurance, FSA and other benefits options; Company matching 401K;
Paid holidays and vacations.

TRAVEL
Travel will vary but expect on average up to eight trips per year.

Please fax your resume to 804-550-2318 or email by clicking on the orange tabs.