Product Engineer

Napoleon leads the way with innovative engineering, advanced manufacturing techniques, unsurpassed customer service and remarkable product quality. Our award-winning products offer a best-in-class experience for all customers' home comfort needs. While we are proudly Canadian, Napoleon is also fortunate to operate on a world-wide scale.

The warmth and experience that a Napoleon product brings to the homes of our customers transcends borders, language, and cultures to enhance everyday living across the globe. Throughout North America, Europe, South America and Asia, Napoleon creates memorable moments through our stunning designs and innovative technologies.

Title:
Product Engineer(ing) - Hearth Division

Reports To:
Assistant Product Engineering Manager

Location:
9 Napoleon Road, Barrie (hybrid)

Job Purpose:
Create a product design that fulfills the Company's strategic goals while integrating the needs of marketing, sales and manufacturing departments. Product Engineering designs and develops from concept new and improved appliances, drafts specifications for components, assemblies and manufacturing, directs the creation of prototype models or samples and fine-tunes designs until they are ready for production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist Product or Engineering Manager with the specification of market requirements, (physical, technical and aesthetic), for current and future products by conducting comprehensive market research, supported by on-going visits/meetings to/with customers, (internal and external) and non-customers, (associations, bodies, etc.).
• Make recommendations based on research for the development and ongoing maintenance of a detailed and overarching product portfolio strategy and product roadmap.
• Provide and maintain an in-depth analysis for all aspects of market, industry, regulatory environment and competition.
• Develop hands-on, in-depth knowledge of competitive products, organizing relevant benchmarking and maintain technical analysis of competitive strengths and weaknesses of current and planned product portfolio.
• Support market assessments and competitive analyses to identify product opportunities whether new or redesigned to address different/future needs.
• Research to be conducted both independently and collaboratively with other cross functions.
• Define the technical concept that will meet the technical requirements, aesthetics and target production cost.
• Review the design to ensure progress to technical goals and deadlines.
• Ensure that design and peer reviews are completed prior to each stage gate and after each test phase.
• Document all issues and where necessary defines recovery plans to resolve.
• Ensure design for manufacture, design for service and design for installation are optimized during development, including obtaining cross functional input, (internal and external) and personally validating the suitability of the product. Works with Validation team and Customer Solutions to analyze similar products to understand and implement product improvements and where applicable solicits end Customer feedback. Conduct risk assessments and recommend appropriate plans.
• Focus on design to cost, initiating the necessary activities throughout the development process to established production costs and take corrective actions as necessary to achieve target cost. This includes consistently estimating and then maintaining cost from conception to production. Work with the cross functional team and, where applicable, the project launch manager to address parts suitable for outsourcing to reduce cost, (or improve capacity utilization). Additionally work with advanced purchasing to identify parts that have long lead items, special requirements, processes or may require new venders.
• Plan and manage prototype phase(s).
• Assist in the creation and assembly of a functional prototype, and fabricated prototype parts and models.
• Develop a test scope and propose a product development plan, (including 3rd party witness testing where applicable), that ensures product safety, performance, robustness and emissions requirements, (where applicable) are met. Include both internal and external testing; to be approved by validation and technology manager. Prepare all necessary document packages for submission to 3rd party agency to ensure certification, listing etc. are achieved on time.
• Evaluate at each stage of development using tools as "test to failure", early phase field testing, analyzing similar product, customer solutions data, ensuring lessons learnt and design checklists.
• Collaborate closely with quality, validation and product evaluation team.
• Plan and manage engineering production run and/or samples to validate the product design and drawings. Partners with the project launch manager, where applicable, to successfully complete the process run, (where the intended process is validated), focusing on the technical readiness, (launch manager focusing on system readiness). Ensure all proposed design changes are documented and implemented in sufficient time to complete production run. Provide technical support for the remainder of the launch and production run, as required.
• Responsible to ensure new product introductions meet WSL expectations for aesthetic appearance, consistent fit and finish and robust operation, by evaluation at each phase of development; using tools as "test to failure", early phase field testing, analyzing similar product, customer solutions data, ensuring lessons learnt and design checklists. Collaborate closely with quality, validation and product evaluation team to ensure the product is confirmed in a timely manner.
• Ensure all stage gates deliverables have been completed up to Gate 3 and support the project launch manager, where applicable, with gate 4 and 5. Schedule stage gate reviews and chair meeting for assigned projects. Manage scope creep by documenting all requested changes, identifying impacts to the project and validating approval change requests.
• Champion the completion of clear and accurate manuals, leaflets, and technical marketing support information for assigned products and accessories. Develop draft manuals and leaflets with technical writer(s), review drafts and make necessary amendments and submit for approval. Take necessary actions to validate the accuracy of information in manuals.
• Maintain current product line up. Champion Change Notices that improve on product robustness and correct quality and field issues for the first 12 months after production launch.
• Champion and facilitate the set-up of appropriate service parts, new kits and plan all accessories, for assigned projects to be fully validated and available at product launch.
• Responsible to research and develop product specific knowledge of technical standards, regulatory requirements, safety and emissions requirements and ensure that the product design will meet these requirements currently and in the future.
• Sketches and simple 3D concept models, rendered images, technical scope documents suitable for obtaining project approval; including presenting ideas to R&D team and management.
• Detailed 3D models suitable for prototype and mass production, including DFA/DFM/DFS (Design for Assembly, Manufacture and Serviceability - including installation).

Education & Experience:

• 3-year College Diploma in mechanical or electrical engineering, (or equivalent). A University Degree in a relevant field would be considered as an asset. Directly applicable work experience and / or skilled trade qualifications may be also be considered.
• 5 years' demonstrated work experience in a directly related industry, (i.e. design, development or manufacturing), with a minimum of three (3) years' technical design required. Must possess knowledge and some practical experience of material and manufacturing processes. Some "hands on" mechanical or fabrication experience.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, and Excel). Superior candidates will be proficient in Microsoft project.
• High level proficiency in 3-D modeling software, (e.g. Solidworks etc.). CSWA, (Certified Solidworks Associate), or willingness to achieve this requirement within six (6) months of the onboarding process.

Specialized Skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of metal fabricating and processing.
• Proficient with all lab testing equipment.
• Knowledge of injection molding.
• Understanding of market functions, needs and concepts.
• Knowledge with load calculations, energy modeling and designing mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of electrical and control systems.
• Skilled in manufacturing and assembly processes.
• Project Management.
• Possess the ability to effectively articulate equipment features, function and design.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to function in a fast paced multi-functional environment where priorities change regularly.

IGNITE YOUR CAREER
, Some of our competitive benefits include:

• Competitive Compensation / Wages
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP/DPSP)
• Tuition Allowance
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Associate Purchase Programs, Product Discounts, In-house Sales
• Appreciation Events, Raffles, Draws, Fundraising, BBQ's, Competitions
• Napoleon Cares – Associates helping Associates
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Napoleon Recognition Program
• GOevisits, virtual doctor visits

The Napoleon Group of Companies is committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain Associates with disabilities. This includes providing accessibility across all stages of the employment cycle. Accommodation is available upon request.

We thank you for your interest in The Napoleon Group of Companies and for participating in our competition. Only those candidates selected for consideration will be contacted.