Product Development Engineer

Role details

Manufacturing Engineer - New Product Development

Salary

$85,000 – $100,000 annually (DOE)

Schedule

1st Shift

Job Type

Full-Time / Exempt

Location

Santa Fe Springs, CA (Fully On-Site/No Remote opportunities)

Job Summary

Guidex Group is seeking an experienced

New Product Manufacturing Development Engineer

for an established manufacturing client specializing in precision-engineered rubber and elastomeric components.

This position plays a key role in bridging product design and manufacturing operations, leading the transition of new products from initial prototypes into efficient, scalable, high-volume production.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing engineering, injection and compression molding, tooling development, and process validation. Experience in the rubber, plastics, or elastomer manufacturing industry is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead new product development (NPD) initiatives, transitioning prototype designs into full-scale manufacturing and commercialization.
• Develop manufacturing processes for elastomeric materials, including silicone, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), nitrile, EPDM, NBR, FKM, and other specialized rubber compounds.
• Collaborate with toolmakers to design, procure, and validate injection and compression molds.
• Optimize tooling design, gating, venting, cycle times, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Apply scientific molding principles and Design of Experiments (DOE) to identify and resolve manufacturing defects, including flash, shrinkage, cure defects, and dimensional inconsistencies.
• Develop and maintain PFMEA documentation, control plans, standardized work instructions, and process validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Partner with engineering, production, quality, and customer service teams to ensure manufacturability, product quality, and successful production launches.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, process optimization, and manufacturing cost reduction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
• 5+ years of relevant manufacturing engineering experience.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, including injection molding, compression molding, CNC machining, assembly, and/or 3D printing.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software, such as SolidWorks or Verisurf, for tooling and fixture design.
• Experience with process development, tooling validation, and manufacturing optimization.
• Working knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and statistical software such as Minitab.
• Familiarity with PFMEA, control plans, and manufacturing process validation.
• Previous experience in rubber, plastics, or elastomeric component manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred Industry Experience

Candidates with experience in precision manufacturing environments supporting aerospace, defense, medical, or other highly regulated industries are encouraged to apply.

Knowledge of ISO 9001 and AS9100 quality management systems is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary:

$85,000 – $100,000 , depending on experience and qualifications.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Opportunity to contribute to innovative product development and advanced manufacturing processes.

Apply Today!

If you are a manufacturing engineer with hands-on experience in new product development, tooling, and manufacturing process optimization, we encourage you to apply.

Guidex Group

is recruiting on behalf of a confidential manufacturing client. Additional company information will be provided to qualified candidates during the recruitment process.

*Guidex Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.*