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Product Engineer 

Role Mission & Overview  

Utility Solutions Group is a manufacturer of natural gas pressure regulators for utility systems.  The company currently produces various models of mechanical natural gas pressure regulators and relief valves in a 115K square foot facility.  In our efforts to continuously improve, there is a high volume of engineering requirements across quality control, production processes, and material compliance, therefore the company is hiring a Product Engineer to work across these areas in support of their respective managers.  

As Product Engineer, you will support efforts to conduct component inspections, design/improve processes, create/update work instructions, create/update PFMEA’s, create/update control plans, conduct process/product root cause analysis and CAPA, create/update 3D data, create/update 2D drawings, design/test prototypes, develop equipment/fixtures, and control documentation changes.  A successful Product Engineer will accomplish this while exercising strong interpersonal skills to build relationships and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Sales, Purchasing, and Production teammates.  In your role, you will report to the Engineering Manager. 

Outcomes in first 3 Months:  

• Work with the SME and other engineering members to gain an intimate understanding of current product models and specifications. 
• Become familiar and experienced with the current production processes in place at USG and begin to contribute to their improvement and robustness. 
• Assist Manufacturing Engineer with first article inspections and qualifications. 
• Join as a valued member of the new test stand development project. 
• Assist with failure analysis and resolution of any product or process failures. 
• Assist Engineering Manager and Design Engineer with 2D/3D updates as needed. 
• Begin handling assigned tasks related to product and process corrective and preventative actions. 
• As needed, assist with creating or updating SOPs and work instructions for production line processes and/or new equipment (new test stand, etc.).  

Outcomes in 12 Months:  

• Review, update, and/or create PFMEAs and control plans across all product lines, identifying current methods of control and potential methods of improvement, prioritized by risk. 
• Prioritize, in conjunction with SME and production team, the highest level of equipment and fixture needs on the production floor and begin to address them. 
• Push towards automation on the production floor, starting with diaphragm taping after running assembly experiments and trials with the robotic arm alongside Design Engineer. 
• Assist with implementation of new test stand on 243-8 line, including training associates and updating necessary work instructions. 
• Support all product compliance regarding industry standards, including ANSI B109, CSA 6.18/22, and future certifications. 
• Contributes to process improvement through production and quality-related KPIs including First Pass Yield and RMA Rate. 

Key Competencies and Personal Characteristics: 

• Dependable, accountable, responsible, ethical, and highly organized. 
• B.S. in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Chemical, etc.) at least 3 years of professional experience. 
• 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred. 
• 1-3 years of 2D/3D CAD experience (preferably SolidWorks or CATIA) is required to create/update necessary engineering drawings during process/product revision and development. 
• Able to take charge of product and process documentation such as work instructions, PFMEAs, and control plans, as well as related corrective and preventative action. 
• Willingness to become product expert and have a major role in the quality of the product and the process from the component level to the final assembly. 
• Must be able to use basic measurement equipment like calipers, micrometers, pressure manometers, etc. 
• Can handle multiple projects concurrently, with the ability to pivot and change tasks based on priority or emergency. 
• Experience with R&D is preferred (material change investigations, equipment development, new product testing, etc.) 
• Passionate about details and facts-based evidence. 
• Driven with a true “can do” attitude and genuine intellectual passion for innovation and positive change, knowing that the status quo is not acceptable. 
• Able to demonstrate remarkable persistence in the pursuit of progress and not overly risk averse. 
• Able to inspire and influence teams in embracing a culture of continuous improvement and safety. 
• Collaborative in team problem solving but with confidence to execute a course of action. 
• Equipped with strong quantitative skills that enable granular understanding of product quality, component quality, and process deficiencies. 
• Able to communicate an engineering analysis in layman’s terms. 
• Able to find and employ problem-solving resources beyond the organization when needed, including additional staff, consultants, and support from vendors. 
• Resolved that decisions should be based on observation, experimentation, and reason, and not because of common practice. 
• Does not suffer from “not invented here” or “not invented by me” narrowmindedness. 

What We Believe In 

Our team feels it’s incredibly important that we can rely on one another. For that reason, as a baseline requirement people only work here if they D.A.R.E. to be great. And by D.A.R.E. we mean each team member must be Dependable, Accountable, Responsible, and Ethical. Anything short of this isn’t acceptable, and people who can’t live this way won’t last on our team. On the other hand, people who do live this way will love working with us since they’ll be surrounded by folks they can rely on. 

We also believe in being gritty, or GRIT-D. Coupled with passion and talent, grittiness is a powerful force that can push the most average organizations to achieve extraordinary things. For that reason, we’ve crafted our company values around it. The GRIT-D acronym is used as a framework to guide our operations, and we believe it’s what will ensure USG is able to continue creating solutions that improve the safety and reliability of utility infrastructure through the next century. 

• Gather and accept objective evidence. Gut instincts are important, but making decisions based on data rather than emotions is even more important. It forces us to understand and grapple with the real forces of our business environment rather than making decisions based on assumptions. 

• Reduce waste and inefficiencies. Da Vinci said simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Taking his lead, we strive to make our business practices as simple and straightforward as possible. It reduces economic waste and helps people work together more seamlessly. 

• Invest in resources that make the company resilient. We want to be a partner for our customers through the foreseeable future. This requires us to invest in people and resources that allow us to weather changes in the industry. 

• Tailor solutions to fix utility problems. USG doesn’t want to be just another vendor our customers have to manage. We want to be a partner in their success. By focusing on the problems that cause the most pain, we can ensure we provide practical solutions to meet our customers’ needs. 

• Dedicate yourself to your craft. This is the core of being gritty. Set high expectations for yourself and exceed them as often as you’re able. Being an expert at your craft means you take pride in your work and go out of your way to constantly improve yourself and your situation. 

Compensation & Benefits 

• $70K-$90K salary - an offer in this range will be made based on candidate experience and skill 

• 10% of salary performance-based bonus opportunity 

• Company contributes 75% of employee medical, dental, and vision; life insurance 

• 4% 401K match 

Utility Solutions Group (USG) is a quickly growing manufacturing company headquartered in Columbus, OH that manufacturers natural gas regulators for gas utilities and gas infrastructure across the globe. After acquiring nine pressure regulator product lines from Sensus-Xylem, USG has been quickly growing its headcount to form the team needed to be successful manufacturing.

Ownership is intimately involved in managing daily operations and are ambitious about growth. The company recently acquired seven product lines, and is standing them up in its own facility. This creates a challenging, fast-paced environment for employees and allows access to exciting new career opportunities on a regular basis.