Associate Engineer II - Process Engineering
Ada, MI, USA
USD 73,508-86,480 / year
Posted on Oct 27, 2026
Job title: Associate Engineer II – Process Engineering
Department / Division: Durables/Research and Development
Salary Range: $73,508 - $86,480/yr plus bonus
Location: Ada, MI (Onsite)
What do we need:
We are looking for a mechanical process engineer who enjoys solving product problems and turning ideas into practical solutions. You will support current products across our cookware, water treatment, and air treatment categories. The role involves investigating product failures, quality concerns, manufacturing challenges, and supplier changes using data, testing, and structured root cause methods. You will then recommend solutions that improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Once a solution is approved, you will create or update CAD models, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and other controlled documentation. You will also help plan testing, coordinate prototypes or supplier samples, and guide changes through product lifecycle and document-release processes. Some projects can be managed independently, while others require coordination with engineers, technicians, Quality, suppliers, and manufacturing partners. This role is a strong fit for someone who enjoys hands-on mechanical design, technical problem-solving, and cross-functional project leadership.
A typical day may include:
- Reviewing a field complaint, manufacturing concern, or supplier issue to determine the appropriate next steps.
- Examining product data, measurements, drawings, specifications, and previous test results.
- Leading or participating in a root cause investigation.
- Creating or updating a 3D CAD model and translating the design into controlled engineering drawings.
- Working with plastics engineers, design engineers, technicians, or suppliers to coordinate a prototype or tooling change.
- Developing or influencing a test plan that confirms whether a proposed solution will work.
- Reviewing sample parts and documenting test results.
- Presenting a data-supported technical recommendation to project stakeholders.
- Updating specifications, bills of materials, part records, test documentation, or engineering-change records.
- Communicating project status, risks, decisions, and next steps to partners in the United States and China.
- Moving between several small and complex projects based on product and business priorities.
This position requires less than 25% travel, with the possibility of one or two domestic or international trips in a typical year. Because this role works with manufacturing, Quality, and supplier partners in China, evening conference calls are generally required one or two times per week. These calls typically begin around 8:00 p.m. and may last one to two hours.
By the end of the first year, a successful engineer will be independently progressing projects, communicating clear technical recommendations, and serving as a trusted owner of CAD designs and engineering changes across the durable product portfolio.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, engineering technology, product design, CAD technology, or a related technical discipline.
- At least one full year of relevant professional, internship, co-op, or applied project experience in mechanical design, product engineering, sustaining engineering, or a related field.
- Experience using 3D CAD software to create or modify mechanical parts, assemblies, or product designs.
- Ability to translate an engineering solution into accurate drawings and controlled technical documentation.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and technical product data.
- Experience investigating or troubleshooting a mechanical, product, quality, supplier, or manufacturing issue.
- Ability to coordinate technical work across multiple contributors and communicate project status clearly.
- Ability to participate in recurring evening meetings with international partners.
- Ability to travel domestically or internationally up to 25%.
Skills to Be Successful in the Role
- Mechanical product-design and CAD modeling skills.
- Structured problem-solving and root cause analysis.
- Ability to move from problem definition to a practical, implementable solution.
- Sound technical judgment and comfort making recommendations based on available evidence.
- Understanding of validation, qualification, reliability, or product testing.
- Strong organization across multiple projects with different levels of complexity.
- Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain technical topics to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Collaboration with Quality, manufacturing, sourcing, regulatory, engineering, and supplier partners.
- Attention to drawing accuracy, revision control, metadata, and documentation traceability.
- Ownership, follow-through, and timely communication of risks or changing priorities.
- Curiosity and willingness to learn unfamiliar products, components, systems, and processes.
- Familiarity with PLM systems, engineering-change processes, FMEA, corrective action, measurement equipment, statistical methods, or supplier qualification is helpful.
What's Special About this Team
The Durables team supports durable products used across our cookware, water treatment, and air treatment categories. The work has a direct connection to product performance, reliability, customer experience, manufacturing capability, compliance, and supply continuity. Rather than focusing on one narrow product or process, you will gain exposure to multiple technologies, materials, suppliers, and product categories.
The team manages a varied portfolio of engineering work. One project may involve a targeted component adjustment that can be designed, sampled, and tested relatively quickly. Another may require a broader investigation involving plastics engineering, reliability testing, supplier tooling, Quality, and international manufacturing partners. This variety creates opportunities to develop both technical depth and cross-functional leadership skills.
You will join a collaborative environment in which engineers are expected to take ownership while drawing on the experience of senior designers, engineers, technicians, and global partners. The team has also developed a structured onboarding plan, including a highly scheduled introduction during the first several weeks and dedicated mentorship through the initial six-week transition. As you gain experience, you will take increasing ownership of your schedule, projects, CAD designs, and product documentation.
By the end of the first year, a successful engineer will be independently progressing projects, communicating clear technical recommendations, and serving as a trusted owner of CAD designs and engineering changes across the durable product portfolio.
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