Job Description:
Project Engineer I – New Product Development Engineering (OPE)
The Project Engineer I supports the cross-functional execution of new product development (NPD) programs for outdoor power equipment (OPE). Working under the guidance of experienced project leaders and engineering leadership, this role helps translate customer and business needs into clear product requirements, maintains project plans and risk visibility, coordinates technical deliverables, and supports products from concept through production. The Project Engineer I develops project leadership capability while building strong technical judgment, communication, and accountability.
Key Job Functions & Responsibilities
Project Scope & Requirements
- Supports development and maintenance of product requirements, engineering specifications, and critical-to-quality (CTQ) measures for assigned projects.
- Helps identify where requirements create challenges to performance, cost, quality, or schedule.
- Supports scoping of assigned systems, subsystems, and project deliverables with guidance from senior project leadership.
- Documents decisions, assumptions, open questions, and changes to project scope.
Schedule, Risk & Execution
- Develops and maintains work breakdown structures, action trackers, milestone plans, and project documentation for lower-complexity projects or defined workstreams.
- Tracks deliverables, identifies emerging schedule threats, and escalates issues when support or cross-functional alignment is needed.
- Supports project risk reviews by documenting likelihood, impact, mitigation actions, owners, and closure evidence.
- Coordinates prototype builds, testing, design reviews, pilot builds, and release activities with functional owners.
- Demonstrates consistent follow-through and personal accountability for assigned actions.
Cost, Quality & Product Performance
- Supports product cost tracking, competitive benchmarking, design trade-off analysis, and value engineering activities.
- Works with Design Engineering, Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Compliance, Reliability, and suppliers to resolve project issues.
- Uses data from testing, builds, and supplier feedback to help the team evaluate options and make informed decisions.
- Supports compliance with internal standards and applicable UL, ANSI, CSA, and ISO expectations.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Communication
- Facilitates routine project meetings or defined agenda sections with coaching; records decisions, owners, and due dates.
- Communicates project information clearly through written updates, presentations, and action summaries.
- Builds productive relationships with domestic and global team members and actively incorporates input from others.
- Proactively communicates obstacles and seeks help early enough to protect project commitments.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 1 year of experience in engineering, product development, manufacturing, or project work; internships and co-op assignments count toward this requirement.
- Working knowledge of engineering fundamentals, drawings, product testing, and structured problem solving.
- Ability to organize technical information, maintain action trackers, and communicate clearly across functions.
- Strong analytical, planning, and follow-through skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, results-driven product development environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with outdoor power equipment, power tools, consumer products, or electromechanical systems.
- Familiarity with NPD stage-gate processes, DFMEA, CTQ development, and design verification.
- Experience supporting prototype or pilot builds and working with global suppliers.
- Basic proficiency with project scheduling, data analysis, and Microsoft Office tools.
Travel
- Up to 10% travel (international and domestic).