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Sr Product Development Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Product Development Engineer Location: 1222 Hamilton Parkway, Itasca, IL, 60143 Job Duties : Design, develop, and manage activities for a specific product or group of products from product ...

Join our dynamic team in Columbus, OH, as a Product Development Engineer, where you'll lead innovative product development engineering projects to bring new technologies and products to market. Your ...

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Sr Product Development Engineer information

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$74.5K

$118.9K

$204.5K

How much do sr product development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr product development engineer in the United States is $118,883.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,000.00 and $118,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Sr Product Development Engineer vs Product Development Engineer?

AspectSr Product Development EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, relevant experienceBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, R&D departments, cross-functional collaborationDesign, testing, and development teams, project-focused
Employer & Industry UsageTech, manufacturing, automotive, consumer electronicsSimilar industries, often entry to mid-level roles
Common Search & ComparisonHigher responsibility, leadership in projectsEntry to mid-level development tasks

The main difference between a Sr Product Development Engineer and a Product Development Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. The senior role typically involves leading projects, making strategic decisions, and mentoring junior staff, while the product development engineer focuses on executing design and development tasks. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in comparable environments within tech, manufacturing, or electronics industries.

What are typical challenges faced by a Sr Product Development Engineer during the product lifecycle, and how can they be addressed?

Sr Product Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative design with manufacturability, coordinating cross-functional teams, and managing tight project timelines. Successfully navigating these challenges involves strong project management skills, effective communication with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks early in the development process. Regular design reviews, clear documentation, and leveraging feedback from multiple stakeholders are key practices that help address these issues and ensure successful product launches.

What does a Sr Product Development Engineer do?

A Sr Product Development Engineer leads the design, development, and improvement of new products from concept to launch. They collaborate with cross-functional teams such as marketing, manufacturing, and quality assurance to ensure products meet customer needs, technical requirements, and regulatory standards. Their role often includes project management, problem-solving, prototyping, and overseeing testing and validation processes. They also mentor junior engineers and help drive innovation within the company.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr Product Development Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Sr Product Development Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, product lifecycle management, and relevant industry experience, often supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering. Familiarity with CAD software, project management tools, and knowledge of industry standards or certifications such as Six Sigma are commonly required. Exceptional problem-solving, leadership, and cross-functional communication skills help drive project success and innovation. These competencies ensure efficient product development, high-quality outputs, and alignment with business objectives.
More about Sr Product Development Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Sr Product Development Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Sr Product Development Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Sr Product Development Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Sr Product Development Engineer jobs include:

Sr Product Development Engineer

Worthington Enterprises

Columbus, OH • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Worthington Enterprises rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 26 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

172nd of 417 rated machine equipment manufacturers


Job description

Job Description
The Senior Product Development Engineer is a critical technical leader within Worthington Enterprises' Innovation team, supporting the Building Products portfolio and enabling the next generation of growth through differentiated products and services. This role is responsible for shaping and executing high-impact product development from early concept through commercialization, while demonstrating strong engineering fundamentals, deep practical manufacturing understanding, and customer-facing professionalism.
This engineer owns operations of Worthington's new Innovation Lab-establishing and managing lab safety systems, equipment strategies, intake and prioritization processes, and day-to-day operations through direct oversight of a lab technician. The role is highly customer-facing, regularly interacting with contractors, OEMs, distributors, and end users to translate real-world needs into actionable product requirements.
Success requires an engineer who is hands-on, practical, entrepreneurial, and confident representing Worthington externally. This individual will mentor junior engineers, lead major new product platforms, and serve as the technical owner for customer engagements, ensuring Worthington builds solutions that are manufacturable, commercially relevant, and aligned with strategic growth.
Responsibilities
  • Product Development Leadership
    • Lead engineer on new products and with specialty in design for manufacturability
    • Develop and iterate design concepts in 3D CAD for rapid learning, customer review, and subsequent refinement.
    • Advise on in-house versus outsourced manufacturing options by understanding Worthington's production capabilities and operational constraints.
    • Drive cross-functional technical alignment with Corporate Engineering, Plant Engineering, Quality, Sourcing, and Product Management.
  • Customer & Market Engagement
    • Serve as a technical representative of Worthington during customer interactions, field visits, contractor demonstrations, and technical sales support activities.
    • Conduct onsite visits to customer locations and contractor job sites to understand real-world performance needs and validate prototypes.
    • Represent Worthington by walking and researching industry expos, identifying emerging trends, technologies, and competitive product architectures.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration & Engineering Excellence
    • Own operations of the new mixed-use Innovation Lab with accountability for safety, compliance, and operational excellence - and through empowerment of your direct report, our lab technician.
    • Facilitate and participate in D/PFMEAs, design reviews, manufacturability assessments, and risk-reduction activities.
    • Collaborate closely with Corporate and Plant Engineering to ensure smooth transition from prototype to production, including advising on final drawing release.
    • Provide engineering mentorship to junior engineers, modeling best practices in technical judgment, communication, and problem solving.

Critical Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
  • Demonstrated ability to design for manufacturability, evaluate operational constraints, and guide make-vs-buy decisions.
  • Practical, hands-on mindset with willingness to engage directly in lab, shop floor, & customer settings
  • Bias for action; thrives in fast-paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial environments.
  • Ability to rapidly iterate and test concepts through prototyping and structured experimentation; proficient in a 3D CAD package for quick design iterations
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills; confident presenting and distilling complex technical issues to business stakeholders and customers
  • Highly collaborative and adept at building trust across disciplines and levels of the organization.
  • Comfortable working in ambiguity
  • Self motivated and team player mentality
  • People Leadership & Development: Effectively manages, empowers, coaches, and provides timely, constructive feedback to a direct and indirect reports
  • Business Acumen - Identifies cost and risks at the component and sub-assembly level to meet defined cost targets

Preferred Experience
  • 3+ years of new product development experience
  • Experience running or contributing to engineering lab operations, specifically CNC mill, CNC lathe, MIG/TIG welders
  • Experience working closely with production facilities to integrate designs into manufacturing environments
  • Exposure to codes and regulations relevant to pressure vessels (e.g., CFR 49, ASME BPV, NFPA 58)
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams, supplier interactions, or customer engagements
  • Technical understanding of roll forming of sheet metal, including process fundamentals
  • Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) or similar structured problem-solving certification.

Education/Training Required
  • 7-9 years of engineering experience, including meaningful hands-on exposure to manufacturing and/or lab environments
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in an ABET-accredited manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing technology, or engineering program.
  • Project leadership experience preferred
  • Ability to travel 10-25% for customer visits, field insights, and industry forums

About Us
Our Company is proud to have a dynamic and inclusive workforce where employees are empowered to innovate, thrive and grow. We believe that each employee's unique strengths contribute to the success of our organization. This belief extends to how we consider our job applicants. Your talents may align with this position or other opportunities within our organization. Apply today to start unlocking your career potential with Worthington Enterprises.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in the application and hiring process. If you are interested in employment with Worthington Enterprises and need an accommodation or assistance using the careers website, please contact careers@wthg.com.
Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) is a designer and manufacturer of market-leading brands that help improve everyday life by elevating spaces and experiences. The Company operates with two primary business units: Building Products and Consumer Products.
The Building Products segment includes cooking, heating, cooling and water solutions, architectural and acoustical grid ceilings and metal framing and accessories. The Consumer Products segment provides solutions for the tools, outdoor living and celebrations categories. Product brands within the Worthington Enterprises portfolio include Balloon Time®, Bernzomatic®, Coleman® (propane cylinders), CoMet®, Elgen, Garden Weasel®, General®, HALO™, Hawkeye™, Level5 Tools®, Mag Torch®, NEXI™, Pactool International®, PowerCore™, Ragasco®, Well-X-Trol® and XLite™, among others.
Founded in 1955 as Worthington Industries, Worthington Enterprises follows a people-first Philosophy with earning money for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Enterprises and its joint ventures employ approximately 6,000 people throughout North America and Europe.

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