Prototype Development Engineer Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

At Fort Wayne Metals, we specialize in producing top-quality wires, cables, and assemblies designed to enhance and safeguard lives. Our products are used in everything from our customers' stents and surgical robots to aircraft and automobiles. At our essence, we are thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers, leveraging our knowledge of materials to create customized solutions for our customers.

Join us in our dedication to making a tangible impact through our advanced materials and superior products.

The Engineer will provide technical support and guidance of the FWM production teams through the concept, design, development, and refinement of new wire, cable and assembly processes. Additionally, they will support the development and usage of engineering tools, systems, fixtures, component design, and processes to produce wire-based products and assemblies meeting or exceeding industry standards and customer specific design and functional requirements.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a technical field is required.
• Experience in and high proficiency with a variety of manufacturing methods/technologies such as assembly, machining, forming, stamping, welding, stranding, cabling, braiding and other wire forming technologies preferred.
• Previous hands-on engineering experience is required. Previous FWM internship experience is preferred.

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for production support, process design/refinement and validation of products and processes while complying with the product realization requirements of ISO-13485 and Fort Wayne Metals (FWM) Quality Systems.
• Work closely as and with internal suppliers of wire and cable product inputs to deliver innovative solutions to customers' functional needs.
• Develop tools, protocols, procedures and work instructions to support the production and testing of functional characterization of products.
• Engage with customers to determine the needs, specifications, development options, and support sales in quotes during the development of new products.
• Coordinate with Quality and Process Engineering to submit First Article Inspection Reporting (FAIR) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documents. May include Control Plans, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Process Flow Diagrams (PFD), and Inspection Plans.
• Document and compile Application Files to capture the development activities and for new products.
• Work with drafted prints and coordinate with Drafting, Tooling, and Rapid Prototype departments for development of new tooling, fixtures and components associated with new product development activities.
• Coordinate the transfer of new products to production, providing appropriate documents, such as Work Instructions, and training to other Process Engineers, Process Technicians, or Operators as needed.
• Work closely with FWM regulatory department to remain current with an appropriate understanding of agency and regulatory requirements, customer products and the competition.
• Review and provide feedback to FWM Customer Service Associates (CSAs) and Product Managers regarding customer specifications utilizing Salesforce.
• Conceptualize new ideas through prototypes.
• Execute Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Perform other duties as requested by management.

Skills Needed

• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and be capable of self-checking for completeness and accuracy of work produced.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Project management and execution.
• Critical thinking.
• Detail Oriented.
• Problem solving ability.
• Mechanical aptitude.
• Materials knowledge with respect to their focused area of FWM.
• Coatings (polymer coatings, extrusion coating, polyimide coatings, spray coat, dip coat, PTFE coatings, PFAS free coatings)
• New Product Development of coatings
• Continuous Improvement of coatings processes
• PFA, FEP, Lubricious coatings, ETFE, PTFE, Dielectric coatings

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Fast paced production environment.
• Exposure to Wire drawing and assembly lubes (powders and oils) and other processing aids, oils, powders, acid solutions, soaps, and time spent working around machinery.
• Travel between facilities required. Travel approximately 5% of the time.
• Must be able to access all areas of operation, including the second floor.
• Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Pulling, pushing, squatting intermittently, and standing for long periods of time; sitting at a computer for an extended time, on occasion.

Benefits & Wellness Resources

The health and wellbeing of Fort Wayne Metals is a critical part of our culture. In addition to offering medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance options to suit your needs, we'd like to share some of the other fundamental resources that make Fort Wayne Metals a premier place to work:

Physical Wellness

• Parkview Wellness Coach
  • Ready to assist with your physical and nutritional wellness needs.
• Gym Facilities
  • 4 onsite gym locations as well as discounts for regional gym facilities
• Health Challenges
  • From pickleball tournaments, sponsored races and sports leagues, to participating in the YMCA's Corporate Challenge, we have a variety of fun ways to stay active.

Mental Wellness

• When You Need to Talk
  • 5 sessions of counseling are available to you and all members of your immediate household at no cost.
• Relaxing Time-Off
  • Qualify for Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay on your first day of employment.

Social Wellness

• Epic Events
  • From TinCaps Night to family days at the zoo, we offer multiple activities throughout the year for employees and their families.
• Employee Resource Group
  • A voluntary, employee-led group formed to bring employees together and centered around a common interest or identity.

Professional Wellness

• Grow Your Career
  • We offer many opportunities to continue your development and growth.
• Performance Feedback
  • Receive regular and constructive feedback from your manager and peers to help you grow and improve.

Financial Wellness

• Annual Profit Sharing & 401k matching
  • Dropping dollars into your 401k. When you contribute 7%, we'll contribute 3.5%.
• Quarterly Bonus
  • When we perform well, everyone benefits! Receive discretionary bonuses each quarter based on company performance.
• Tuition Reimbursement
  • Getting your first degree? Great! Whatever your major, we'll help pick up the tab!
• Your Money Line
  • Employer-provided 1:1 financial guidance, education, & tools - so you can stress less about money and enjoy greater stability & confidence.