Senior Product Introduction; NPI Engineer

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

The NPI Engineer is responsible for the effective implementation of new product designs by ensuring a successful transition from the design phase into manufacturing and mass production. The NPI Engineer provides engineering expertise for operations, and they develop new manufacturing processes, equipment, documents, instructions, training, and tools necessary for product introductions and product line transfers between facilities. The NPI Engineer is the lead engineering liaison between product development and operations.

The NPI Engineer will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product development, product management, manufacturing, quality assurance, and supply chain, to establish robust processes, develop necessary documentation, and facilitate training, ensuring seamless transitions between product design and manufacturing operations. The ultimate goal is to successfully implement new products, processes, and equipment to drive new product adoption, efficiency, and sustained growth.

Process Development, Documentation, and Implementation

• Develop, test, analyze, and implement new processes and procedures during the design and implementation phases of projects.
• Identify manufacturing process steps, floor resources, documents, tools, fixtures, and equipment required to manufacture new products.
• Identify, implement, and validate capital equipment, tooling, and test equipment required to successfully set up or transfer products between facilities.
• Create, validate, and adjust new product BOMs
• Develop clear and concise work instructions for new products or integrate new products into existing instructions.
• Perform time studies to establish and validate process times for new products and procedures.
• Ensure clarity, consistency, and cohesion of product documentation by analyzing product drawings, BOMs, manufacturing instructions, and training documents.
• Qualify new products, sourced materials, equipment, and processes as they pertain to manufacturing of Clearfield product.
• Develop, refine, and support existing manufacturing processes and issue engineering change requests as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Coordination

• Collaborate with design engineering during product development and prototyping to ensure design for manufacturability.
• Collaborate with design engineering, product management, compliance lab, and quality assurance to establish qualification procedures and ensure compliance of first articles and initial production runs.
• Interface with design engineers, project managers, product managers, application engineers, quality assurance, supply chain, and manufacturing personnel to address any issues with first article, qualification, or initial production builds.
• Serve as a liaison between design engineering, product management, quality assurance, and manufacturing to ensure alignment on processes and documentation.
• Support manufacturing engineers and quality assurance in Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) and statistical process control efforts.

Training and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and deliver training programs for manufacturing personnel to ensure they understand new processes, equipment, and product specifications.
• Lead training builds and first article builds of new assemblies and configurations across manufacturing sites
• Investigate and develop resolutions for deviations and discrepancies in new production components and assemblies.
• Perform troubleshooting, analyze defects, identify and implement corrective actions.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to address potential challenges throughout the product introduction lifecycle.
• Create and develop efficient manufacturing methods for new products and establish best practices in manufacturing.
• Monitor product performance and production metrics post-launch, implementing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and overall product success.
• Participate in process redesign and line layout to accomplish Lean manufacturing cost reduction objectives

Th…