Product Development Coordinator Jobs

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Meco Corporation is seeking an innovative, technically skilled, and detail-oriented Product Development Engineer & Compliance Coordinator to join our Outdoor Living Group!

This position plays an important role in bringing new products to market, from initial concept and design through prototyping, testing, manufacturing, and successful product launch. We're looking for someone who enjoys combining creativity with practical engineering solutions, solving technical challenges, and collaborating with teams to develop products that meet customer expectations.

In addition to product development responsibilities, this role coordinates product compliance activities across our grill and furniture product lines, helping ensure products meet applicable regulatory, industry, and customer requirements.

The ideal candidate will bring strong engineering knowledge, hands-on manufacturing experience, excellent project management skills, and a passion for continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Engineering

• Lead assigned product development and innovation projects through the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept through production readiness and launch.

• Translate consumer insights, customer feedback, market trends, and competitive research into innovative product concepts and measurable design requirements.

• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, 2D engineering drawings, technical specifications, bills of materials (BOMs), tolerances, and other engineering documentation.

• Evaluate product concepts for feasibility, functionality, manufacturability, safety, cost-effectiveness, quality, and overall customer value.

• Apply engineering principles and design-for-manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA) practices to optimize product performance and production efficiency.

• Identify opportunities for value engineering, product improvements, cost reductions, and enhanced manufacturing processes.

• Coordinate the development of prototypes, product samples, tooling trials, and pilot production builds with internal teams and domestic or international suppliers.

• Develop and execute product testing and validation plans to evaluate durability, mechanical performance, stability, thermal performance, safety, packaging, and overall product functionality, as applicable.

• Analyze testing results, troubleshoot technical challenges, identify root causes, and coordinate corrective actions.

• Work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, Sales, Marketing, and other departments to ensure successful product development and production launches.

• Support production startup activities and resolve design-related issues to ensure products meet established performance and quality standards.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously while maintaining established schedules, budgets, priorities, and quality expectations.

• Coordinate project requirements, resources, milestones, technical reviews, and launch readiness activities.

• Maintain accurate project documentation, including timelines, decisions, testing results, design changes, and risk assessments.

• Communicate project progress, challenges, and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Identify potential project risks and proactively develop solutions to minimize delays, cost overruns, or performance concerns.

• Collaborate with domestic and international suppliers to communicate engineering requirements, assess capabilities, and support product development activities.

• Participate in product strategy discussions, innovation initiatives, industry benchmarking, and continuous improvement efforts.

• Support post-launch evaluations and recommend improvements to product quality, development processes, and overall project effectiveness.

Product Compliance Coordination

• Coordinate annual product compliance activities for Meco's grill and furniture product lines.

• Monitor applicable regulatory, industry, and customer requirements to support ongoing product compliance.

• Work with internal departments, suppliers, customers, and third-party testing laboratories to coordinate required product testing, certifications, and approvals.

• Maintain accurate and organized compliance documentation, including test reports, certifications, declarations, approvals, and customer submissions.

• Evaluate changes to product designs, materials, suppliers, manufacturing processes, packaging, labeling, and instructions to identify potential compliance impacts.

• Track compliance deadlines, testing requirements, and outstanding action items to ensure timely completion.

• Coordinate corrective actions and retesting when compliance issues are identified.

• Communicate potential compliance concerns to appropriate stakeholders and assist in resolving issues that could affect product approvals, launches, or continued sales.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, with a minimum of five years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated experience developing manufactured products from initial concept through engineering design, validation, and production launch.

• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling, assemblies, 2D production drawings, engineering tolerances, specifications, and bills of materials.

• Experience with SolidWorks or comparable parametric CAD software.

• Knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, materials, fabrication methods, manufacturing processes, and product assembly.

• Experience developing and executing product or component testing plans, analyzing results, and resolving technical issues.

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, schedules, priorities, risks, and cross-functional deliverables.

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information effectively to both technical and nontechnical audiences.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively with internal departments and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with consumer durable goods, outdoor living products, fabricated metal products, or thermal/combustion products.

• Familiarity with metal stamping, fabrication, welding, assembly processes, tooling, and manufacturing operations.

• Experience with supplier development, global sourcing, product cost analysis, and factory prototype or pilot production builds.

• Experience coordinating product compliance testing, certifications, and third-party testing laboratories.

• Familiarity with design-for-manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA), value engineering, and root-cause analysis.

• Experience using Microsoft 365 and enterprise systems such as ERP, PLM, document control, or project management software.

• Additional coursework or experience in business, product management, or innovation.

Skills & Competencies

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Technical Expertise: Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to apply engineering knowledge to practical product and manufacturing challenges.

• Innovation & Creativity: A passion for developing new products, improving existing designs, and identifying opportunities to deliver greater customer value.

• Project Management: Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities while meeting deadlines.

• Problem-Solving: The ability to evaluate complex technical challenges, identify root causes, and develop effective, data-driven solutions.

• Collaboration & Communication: The ability to build productive working relationships across departments, suppliers, customers, and external partners.

• Business Awareness: An understanding of how product design decisions impact manufacturing efficiency, quality, cost, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

• Adaptability & Initiative: A proactive approach to learning, continuous improvement, and responding to changing business or project needs.

Work Environment & Travel

• Work is performed in a combination of office, engineering, prototype/testing, and manufacturing environments.

• Regular interaction with production personnel, suppliers, and cross-functional teams is expected.

• The position may involve working around manufacturing equipment, tools, hot surfaces, and other industrial conditions. Appropriate safety procedures and personal protective equipment must be followed.

• Periodic domestic and international travel may be required to support supplier visits, product development projects, customer needs, and industry trade shows.

• Occasional schedule flexibility may be necessary to support testing, production trials, product launches, or supplier coordination.

About Meco Corporation

For more than 60 years, Meco Corporation has been committed to manufacturing quality consumer products. Based in Greeneville, Tennessee, our operations include metal stamping, fabrication, welding, powder coating, assembly, and packaging.

Through our established brands, including Americana Grills and Stakmore Furniture, we take pride in delivering innovative, functional products while maintaining a strong commitment to quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

We're proud of our manufacturing heritage and the people who make our success possible.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're an experienced engineer who enjoys bringing ideas to life, improving product performance, and working collaboratively to develop innovative solutions, we encourage you to apply!

Join Meco Corporation and help us develop the next generation of products!