Food Product Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Who Are We?

Have you ever gone into a grocery store or convenience store for things like milk, bagged salads, or frozen pizza? The coolers and freezers you find those and other food products in are what we do!! Zero Zone is a manufacturer of reach-in and open refrigerated and frozen food display cases as well as the refrigeration systems that work behind the scenes to cool the cases, keeping the food fresh! We also make powerful industrial refrigeration systems for food warehousing, pharmaceuticals, and even ice rinks!

Our company is structured across 2 divisions – the Display Case Division, located in North Prairie, WI, Waukesha, WI, and Mukwonago, WI and the Refrigeration Systems Division, located in Ramsey, MN and Dyersville, IA.

What Are We Like?

At Zero Zone, you will be a valued member of the Zero Zone team, able to take ownership of your own career path. We believe in hard work, teamwork, collaboration, and respect, and we have grown through dedication to our Purpose: “Preserving customer valuables through refrigeration.” For over 60 years, we have been a leader in refrigeration, and our people are well known for exceptional customer service. We also believe we are the COOLEST coworkers (pun intended)! This is an opportunity for you to make a difference in the refrigeration industry with one of the top leading manufacturers in the country! Come grow with us!
 

What Can We Offer You?

• Vacation and Personal Hours (after only 30 days!)

• Competitive Wages

• Comprehensive Benefits Package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, STD, LTD, AD&D, HSA/FSA, EAP)

• 401k and Profit Sharing

• 10 Paid Holidays

• Flexible Schedules

• Casual Dress Code

• Wellness Programs and Incentives

• Steel Toe Reimbursement

• Employee Engagement Programs

• One-time Home Computer Reimbursement

• And more!

What Will You Do?

Under the direction of the Director of Operations Excellence, the Product Manufacturing Engineer serves as the key technical liaison between Product Design and Manufacturing Operations, ensuring products are manufactured to design intent, meet quality standards, and support continuous improvement initiatives. This role supports both new product development and sustaining engineering efforts, driving product excellence from concept through production and life cycle support. The Product Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in improving manufacturability, reducing cost, enhancing quality, and supporting innovation and growth initiatives within a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Product & Manufacturing Support:
  • Serve as the primary interface between design engineers and manufacturing teams.
  • Act as the subject-matter expert for assigned product lines, ensuring adherence to design intent, technical specifications, and compliance requirements.
  • Provide engineering support to Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and Service teams.
  • Support and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), part numbers, sub-assemblies, and raw materials within the ERP system.
  • Support manufacturing process improvements to enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
  • Apply lean manufacturing principles to improve assembly processes and reduce waste.
  • Support high-mix, low-volume production needs with flexible and scalable engineering solutions.
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, sustainability, and quality enhancement.
  • Provide technical support to internal teams, sales, and external customers as needed.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
• New Product Development & Sustaining Engineering:
  • Participate in all phases of new product development, including ideation, concept development, design reviews, validation testing, and production launch.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally during stage-gate processes to ensure on-time product launches.
  • Support product improvements, model refreshes, and legacy product updates.
  • Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) initiatives.
• Engineering Documentation & CAD:
  • Partnering with CAD department in reviewing CAD models and engineering drawings using AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
  • Maintain revision control and manage engineering changes through formal ECN processes.
  • Manage design documentation using internal document control systems.
  • Create and update process documentation and work instructions.
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements for Effective Performance:

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in product engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related role in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and 3D CAD software (SolidWorks).
• Occasional domestic travel via motor vehicle or aircraft

Skills/Abilities/Specifications:

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to analyze information and make appropriate technical recommendations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing responsibilities, meet deadlines, and deliver quality results.
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail.

Behavioral & Environmental Requirements:

• Maintain a positive work attitude. Zero Zone expects all employees to behave and communicate in a manner which will facilitate good relationships with customers, clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Safety toe shoes and safety glasses are required while in production areas.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk throughout the office and production areas; have use of hands and fingers to use a computer, telephone, and other office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.