Job Title: Product Design & Development Engineer
Job Overview:
We design and manufacture OBD automotive diagnostic products and measurement devices. Based at our US headquarters, you'll serve as the technical bridge between the R&D team (hardware and firmware) and global manufacturing partners. You'll drive products from early prototypes to mass production.
Hands-on circuits need a broad working grasp of electrical design to manage vendors, collaborate internationally, and validate products to global standards.
Role Overview:
1. Conceptualization & Design
Translate market requirements and user feedback into detailed mechanical or electrical architecture using CAD software.
Core Tasks
- Work with Product/Marketing to finalize specs, review block diagrams, schematics, and enclosure concepts.
- Manage overseas vendors for PCB layout and mechanical tooling fabrication.
Required Technical Skills
- Technical Literacy: Sufficient understanding of schematics and system architectures (MCU/SoC, power, wireless) to bridge conversations between R&D and vendors.
- ECAD Tools: EDA software (Altium, Allegro, or OrCAD) to review and verify multi-layer PCB layouts.
2. Prototyping
Build, test, and troubleshoot prototypes to validate form, fit, and function.
Core Tasks
- Manage prototype evolution, PCBA, and tooling samples.
- Diagnose functional or mechanical-electrical issues.
Required Technical Skills
- Lab Equipment: Oscilloscopes, multimeters, and power supplies to evaluate prototypes.
- FFF Validation: Checking mechanical tolerances, enclosure alignment, button feel, light leakage, and structural integrity.
- Firmware/Scripting: Basic flashing and scripting to run diagnostic tests on functional prototypes.
3. Design for Manufacturing
Optimize parts for scalable production — balancing material selection, tooling integration, and assembly efficiency.
Core Tasks
- Act as the technical gatekeeper of all R&D design freeze to overseas mass production.
- Optimize BOM/component selection with IC vendors.
Required Technical Skills
- Component & Supply Chain: Component sizing/packaging (SMD, BGA, QFN) and lifecycle assessment (lead times, second sourcing, EOL risks).
4. Testing & Validation
Conduct rigorous product testing (structural, thermal, or performance) and oversee regulatory compliance and safety certifications.
Core Tasks
- Execute hardware and mechanical validation (environmental, thermal, electrical limits) and reliability testing (mechanical stress, drop, vibration, IP rating).
- Partner with international certification bodies to prepare products for global market release.
Required Technical Skills
- Hardware Validation: HVT protocols (thermal profiling, stress testing, power consumption analysis).
- Mechanical Reliability: Reliability standards (drop, impact, thermal cycling, environmental chamber testing).
- Regulatory Compliance: EMI/EMC testing fundamentals and global standards (CE, FCC, UL).
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration (The Global Bridge)
Partner with industrial design, marketing, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to bring products to market.
Core Tasks
- Sync across the R&D team and overseas factories to align schedules and monitor the critical path to Mass Production.
- Coordinate with marketing, supply chain, and industrial design to align product launch, component sourcing, and design intent.
- Serve as the central authority for Engineering Change Orders (ECO) on hardware and tooling/mold modifications.
Required Technical Skills:
- Engineering Document Control: Managing BOMs, Gerber files, and releasing Manufacturing Data Packages.
- Technical Vendor & Project Management: Milestone tracking (Gantt charts) and coordinating root-cause analysis with SMT/tooling factories on assembly, out-of-spec, or cosmetic defects (sink marks, flashing).
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with at least 5 years’ experience.
- Strong communicator able to align cross-functional, international teams across time zones.
- Willing to travel internationally; English/Chinese bilingual is a strong plus.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Ability to Commute:
- Irvine, CA 92614 (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Irvine, CA 92614: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
