Product Development Director Jobs in Sun Prairie, WI

Job Category: Engineering

Requisition Number: DESIG007295

• Posted : August 28, 2026
• Full-Time

Showing 1 location

Madison, WI 53711, USA

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, the leading manufacturer of luxury kitchen appliances, is a longstanding, family‑owned company in the Madison area. Icons of design and paragons of performance and quality, Sub‑Zero, Wolf, and Cove are the refrigeration, cooking, and dishwashing specialists found in the world’s most luxurious homes. We look for team members who are driven by innovation and excellence, striving to serve our customers by doing what is right—with integrity, teamwork, and accountability.

The New Product Development Refrigeration Design Team is integral to the overall success of the organization by providing comprehensive solutions regarding the design, development, validation, and launch of new refrigeration products to meet all performance objectives and customer requirements throughout their entire product lifecycle.

Growth and development are important aspects of this position. Whether you aspire to be a leader or a technical expert, this position will set you up for success in the future.

The primary focus of this role is improving energy efficiency with a strong emphasis on refrigeration and airflow system designs. This position is responsible for refrigeration systems for residential appliances, including technologies that support food preservation, energy efficiency, and overall performance. The role involves collaborating across engineering disciplines to deliver innovative, very reliable, and high‑performing refrigeration solutions.

As a Design Engineer 1, you will apply various engineering, product development, and project management techniques to deliver best‑in‑class luxury appliances for our customers.

• Resolve issues related to energy and new environmental regulations, safety, assembly, reliability, quality, fabrication, and testing
• Engineer refrigeration components and systems to meet regulatory and safety standards, and performance requirements from project initiation to production
• Design of peripheral systems, including water dispensing, icemaking, and airflow delivery
• Generate and convert ideas into design solutions while working independently and within cross‑functional teams
• Evaluate design alternatives based on cost, quality, and performance
• Active member of the New Product Development team with a willingness to work with internal and external customers, and suppliers
• Responsible for testing performance, data analysis, and adherence to test plans to validate and verify design concepts
• Inform, direct, and guide lab technicians and designers while completing tasks to meet project goals
• Create and release engineering changes to execute design intent

We value our employees by providing:

• Competitive compensation based on skills
• Industry leading health, dental, and vision plans
• Generous 401 (K) savings and profit sharing
• On‑site UW Health clinic, fitness center, and walking paths
• Education assistance and internal training programs
• Electric vehicle charging
• Maternity & paternity leave

This position requires a pre‑employment drug/alcohol test and background check, which will be administered after a conditional job offer is extended. A negative drug/alcohol test result is required for employment. Refusal to take the test or a positive result may disqualify a candidate from further consideration. All drug testing will be conducted in accordance with federal and state laws.

Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Works well as a member of a group

Bachelors or better in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Basic understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics

Knowledge of basic circuits and controls

Functional knowledge of Solidworks or related CAD software

Basic knowledge of Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling

Self‑starter who can efficiently satisfy their goals, project needs and timelines

Effective and concise communication skills, both oral and written

Ability to plan, schedule, and organize your workload

Ability to work in environments experiencing routine and rapid change

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.