Contractors’ Warehouse —
New Product Development Engineer

Position Purpose:

The New Product Development Engineer will work with a dynamic innovation team to drive the early stages of product development for physical products. The role emphasizes front-end innovation, including concept creation, customer insights, feasibility analysis, and prototype development to transform ideas into viable product solutions. This engineer will focus on ideating and piloting solutions that align with strategic goals, leveraging their technical expertise, creative problem-solving skills, and supplier/vendor management experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead front-end development phases, including concept generation, feasibility studies, and early prototyping for physical products.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather customer insights, identify market needs, and develop compelling product concepts.
• Manage supplier and vendor relationships to source materials, refine designs, and validate concepts.
• Utilize emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to enhance product designs.
• Create and manage project documentation, including concept briefs, functional specifications, and prototype evaluation reports.
• Generate digital, build, or 3D print product concepts to clearly communicate product idea.
• Pilot and test prototypes to assess functionality, manufacturability, and user experience, iterating based on feedback.
• Assist in transitioning concepts from early-stage development to downstream teams for commercialization.
• Stay current with industry trends, materials, and technologies to inform innovative product solutions.
• Ensure project delivery meets customer expectations for quality, schedule, and budget.

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

• This position reports to Engineering Manager
• This position has no Direct Reports

Travel Requirements:

• Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.

Physical Requirements:

• Most all of the time is spent sitting in the same position or standing/walking or there is some requirement to lift or handle material or equipment of moderate weight (8-20 pounds).

Working Conditions:

• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Development, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in product development, with a focus on front-end processes for physical products.
• Proven ability to translate customer insights into innovative product concepts.
• Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing techniques, and prototyping methods.
• Experience in supplier and vendor management, including sourcing and negotiating with external partners.
• Effective communication and presentation skills to articulate ideas and gain stakeholder buy-in.
• Hands-on experience with CAD software, rapid prototyping tools, and product testing.
• Project management capabilities with an understanding of Agile or lean development practices.
• Ability to analyze technical challenges and develop creative, user-centered solutions.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Minimum Education:

• The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

Preferred Education:

• No additional education

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

• 2

Preferred Years of Work Experience:

• No additional years of experience

Minimum Leadership Experience:

• None

Preferred Leadership Experience:

• None

Certifications:

• None

Competencies:

• Strategic Agility: Ability to anticipate market trends and contribute to long-term product strategies.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Develop innovative solutions to complex design and engineering challenges.
• Collaboration: Work effectively with internal and external stakeholders to bring ideas to life.
• Supplier/Vendor Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure quality and timeliness of deliverables.
• Customer Focus: Leverage customer insights to drive product design decisions.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to navigate a fast-paced, iterative development environment.