New Product Development Engineer

Summary/Objective: The New Product Development Engineer is responsible for supporting the design, development, validation, and release of new interconnect solutions from concept through production. This position works cross-functionally to ensure product designs meet customer requirements, internal quality standards, applicable industry expectations, manufacturability requirements, and company objectives.

Essential Functions/ Responsibilities:

• Support the design, development, and validation of connector solutions, including board-to-board, cable, power, high-speed, and panel-mount products.
• Collaborate with purchasing, quality, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, process engineering, electroplating, suppliers, product management, and other cross-functional teams to develop product solutions.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues during product development, prototype builds, validation testing, and quality investigations.
• Adhere to all corporate engineering standards including, but not limited to, documentation, file management, testing, and reporting.
• Support design reviews, validation planning, product qualification, and production release activities.
• Apply data-driven problem-solving methods to evaluate design performance, determine root cause, and support corrective actions.
• Communicate project status, risks, issues, and next steps clearly and professionally to internal stakeholders.
• Travel to vendors and/or Samtec facilities outside New Albany as required.
• Perform administrative and project support tasks as required.

 “The responsibilities as defined are intended to serve as a general guideline for this position. Associates may be asked to perform additional tasks depending on strengths and capabilities” 

Skills/Competencies:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across functional teams.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Self-motivated with the ability to drive assigned tasks to completion with appropriate guidance.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Strong attention to detail in documentation, modeling, testing, analysis, and project execution.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of two years of experience in the design, development, or manufacturing of complex assemblies preferred.
• Experience with electrical connector development, design, and/or manufacturing preferred.
• Experience with plastic injection molding and/or progressive die stamping preferred.
• 3D CAD experience required; SolidWorks experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience with data analysis tools such as Minitab and/or JMP preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals and physics-based problem solving.
• Demonstrated experience using data-driven root cause analysis methods.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds from floor to waist.
• Ability to perform computer-based engineering work for extended periods and communicate effectively in standard office, lab, and engineering environments, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or equivalent.
• Technical or engineering experience can substitute for preferred education.