FLSA STATUS: Exempt

DEPARTMENT: Engineering

SUPERVISOR: Engineering Manager

DIRECT REPORTS: None

Position Summary

The Product Development Engineer at Cicoil is a key technical resource responsible for driving new product development from initial customer inquiry through design, validation, and handoff to manufacturing. This role serves as the primary engineering interface with customers and the outside sales team, providing expert technical solutions for custom cable and flat cable assembly applications across aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial markets.

Working within Cicoil's structured New Product Introduction (NPI) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, the Product Development Engineer owns the full development lifecycle: requirements gathering, concept design, prototype development, quoting, design validation, and a seamless handoff to the Manufacturing Process Engineer. This person is a technical expert who translates customer needs into manufacturable, cost-effective solutions while collaborating closely with engineering technicians, the outside sales team, and internal cross-functional stakeholders.

Success in this role looks like: on-time NPI execution, accurate and competitive quotes, high customer satisfaction with solutions provided, and clean handoffs to manufacturing with zero ambiguity.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field required

Experience

5+ years of engineering experience in a product development or applications engineering role within a manufacturing environment

Demonstrated experience executing NPI and/or APQP processes from concept through production release

Experience in cable, wire harness, electro-mechanical assembly, or related product development strongly preferred

Background in technical quoting and cost estimation for custom engineered products

Experience working directly with customers and outside sales teams to define and develop solutions

Familiarity with Mil/Aerospace specifications (e.g., MIL-DTL-17, MIL-W-22759, MIL-C-27500) a strong plus

Knowledge

Strong working knowledge of NPI and APQP methodologies and associated documentation (DVP&R, PFMEA, control plans, etc.)

Solid understanding of electrical and mechanical engineering principles as applied to cable and interconnect design

Knowledge of manufacturing processes relevant to cable assembly, extrusion, and flat cable production

Familiarity with industry standards for cable and harness design in aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial sectors

Working knowledge of Autodesk Inventor or equivalent 3D CAD/modeling tools

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Epicor or similar ERP system a plus

Skills

Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and customer requirements documents

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to develop creative, cost-effective solutions

Excellent communication skills — able to present and explain technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple active NPI programs simultaneously

Collaborative team player who works effectively across engineering, sales, and manufacturing functions

Self-motivated and results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership over projects

Job Responsibilities

Customer Engagement & Technical Solutions

Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers and the outside sales team during the product development phase

Partner with outside sales representatives to respond to customer inquiries, understand application requirements, and develop tailored cable and interconnect solutions

Conduct technical reviews of customer specifications, drawings, and requirements to assess feasibility and recommend optimal designs

Provide expert technical guidance and solution recommendations to customers, including material selection, configuration, testing requirements, and compliance considerations