New Product Development Engineer (lighting & Electrical)

New Product Development Engineer

The New Product Development Engineer - Lighting / Electrical leads the research, design, and engineering of new products to enhance the company’s premium collections of standard offerings. This role transforms market research and trend analysis into innovative designs that align with industry demand and the company’s manufacturing capabilities. From concept development through prototyping, the New Product Development Engineer drives the creation of high-quality fixtures, including the integration of lighting and electrical components where applicable. Success in this role requires a blend of innovation, creativity, and strong analytical skills, with the ability to engineer solutions that merge wood, metal, and electrical systems seamlessly.

Responsibilities:

• Develop design concepts to identify the most viable solutions
• Present product ideas to cross-functional teams for collaboration and feedback
• Engineer concepts from initial prototype through to final design
• Research and monitor industry and customer trends to identify emerging needs and opportunities
• Investigate product technologies for potential integration into new designs
• Interact regularly with production/manufacturing to assure design/production flow
• Create Bills of Materials for all manufactured wood/metal products
• Maintain/update all revisions to B.O.M.s
• Prioritize cost savings throughout all processes, offering value engineered solutions
• Be intimately involved in the assembly of prototypes, including lighting/electrical integration
• Follow any other instructions and perform any other duties as requested by manager

Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in design, engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience as an engineer in a wood or metal manufacturing environment, with a preference for the store fixture industry
• Expertise in working with multi-materials such as wood, metal, plastics, glass, and integrated lighting/electrical systems
• Strong understanding of manufacturing techniques in the wood and/or metal industries, including cabinetry, laminating processes, and hardware
• Familiarity with lighting and electrical design, including LEDs, low-voltage wiring, drivers, controls, and power distribution
• Knowledge of UL/ETL certification requirements and ability to design to compliance standards
• Experience with Autodesk software, including AutoCAD, Vault, or equivalent
• Ability to mentor and train less experienced engineers
• Contribute to the development of company standards and specifications for engineering designs
• Working knowledge of ERP software
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas professionally
• Strong problem-solving ability, able to quickly address challenges and find effective solutions
• Capable of producing quality work under tight deadlines and customer demands
• Skilled in prioritizing and managing multiple small projects simultaneously, ensuring all key milestones are met while maintaining the highest quality standards