Senior Product Development Engineer

We are looking for an experienced and driven Sr. Product Engineer to work within the Mi-Jack Products Engineering Team!

Who we are:

Lanco - our parent company - is a strong, large, growing, international, private and family-owned company with more than 70 years of cherished history. Within it is our flagship and industry-leading Mi-Jack Products company which this position supports. We are a high-performing team and a great place to work. Our employees are the key to our success and help us stand out from our competitors. We have strong core values, culture and community.

https://www.thelancogroup.com/our_services/material-handling/

https://www.mi-jack.com

Position Overview:

As a Senior Product Engineer, you will lead the technical delivery of assigned product series and new product development initiatives, focusing on electrification, product improvements, and sustainment activities like cost reduction, manufacturability, and warranty mitigation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams-including engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing-to ensure products meet customer requirements, internal standards, and project timelines. Additionally, you will manage validation strategies, prototype builds, and quality issue resolutions while mentoring engineers and developing external industry partnerships. Throughout all activities, you will uphold the company’s mission, culture, and values, maintaining compliance with policies and fostering a collaborative and high-performing engineering environment.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the technical delivery of product series, ensuring customer requirements are met through new product development, electrification initiatives, and product improvement efforts.
  
• Drive sustainment projects focused on cost reduction, manufacturability improvements, and warranty reduction, partnering with purchasing and manufacturing for strategic direction and issue resolution.
  
• Collaborate across engineering teams and with external partners to develop complete machine systems, validation strategies, and maintain CAD for full-machine vehicle architecture.
  
• Manage DV/PV test planning, prototype builds, design reviews, and project gate reviews to optimize cost, quality, and on-time delivery of development activities.
  
• Investigate internal and external product quality issues, applying robust problem-solving methodologies (8D, Red-X, 5Why) to define root cause, drive resolutions, and implement systemic preventive actions.
  
• Coach, mentor, and direct engineering team members, ensuring professional growth, technical proficiency, and staffing needs are met; manage team evaluations, goal setting, and development plans.
  
• Provide budget input for product development tasks, contribute to the advancement of engineering processes and procedures, and promote a high level of teamwork and collaboration across on-site, off-site, and international teams.
  
• Uphold company policies and values, lead new product introduction efforts, adapt to technological changes, and maintain strong internal and external working relationships.
  

Additional Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance in all safety, health, and environmental regulations, policies, and procedures for a goal of zero incidents and injuries
  
• Communicate consistently on all activities to appropriate individuals (both internal and external)
  
• Maintain ongoing communication and adhere to all Companywide policies to eliminate and/or reduce exposure to liability
  
• Special projects or work as assigned
  

Please note this job posting is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

What we are looking for:

• Self-motivated and accountable, with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
  
• Detail-oriented and capable of interpreting customer specifications and applying industry codes and standards with consistency and accuracy.
  
• Proficient in 3D design environments, with experience using Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar platforms (e.g., Creo). Strong understanding of 3D modeling fundamentals including surfaces, faces, center planes, and assemblies.
  
• Strong understanding of industry standards and experience reviewing designs for code compliance.
  
• Deep mechanical design knowledge, including the full lifecycle of parts being burned, cut/sawn, machined, formed, welded, or produced via casting or forging. Must be able to detail components, define manufacturing processes, and support designs with analytical validation.
  
• Expertise in structural and mechanical connections, including sizing and validating bolted, pinned, and welded joints. Must understand how to select appropriate fasteners, bolt patterns, weld sizes, and configurations based on performance requirements.
  
• Experience with Bill of Materials (BOM) management, both in CAD drawings and within ERP systems.
  
• Familiarity with engineering release processes, including new part introductions and engineering change notices (ECNs), in a structured release environment.
  
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
  

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor�s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related field (e.g., Agricultural Engineering with relevant mechanical/structural design experience).
  
• 5+ years of proven leadership experience managing specialized engineering teams, with strong communication skills to collaborate effectively across internal teams and external partners.
  
• Comprehensive knowledge of design and development practices, with expertise in full-machine or machine-system design for heavy machinery, and the ability to apply technical knowledge to enhance engineering processes.
  
• Qualified candidates, excluding current Lanco employees, must be legally authorized on an unrestricted basis (US Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee) to be employed in the United States. Lanco does not anticipate providing employment related work sponsorship for this position (e.g., H-1B status).
  

Preferred Education and Experience:

• A master�s degree in a related engineering field is preferred.
  
• Top candidates will have 10+ years of experience in aforementioned engineering discipline and a proven track record of leading multiple projects and teams.
  

Work Environment:

• This is primarily a sedentary office classification and employees work in an office with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances
  
• Minimal travel required- up to 10% domestic and international travel requirements.
  
• Location: Hazel Crest, IL (Relocation assistance may be available)
  

Physical Demands:

• The position occasionally bends, stoops, reaches, pushes and pulls drawers to retrieve and file information and lifts and carries reports, records, and other materials that typically weigh less than 30 pounds
  

Compensation/Benefits:

We foster a collaborative team environment that values innovation and encourages creative solutions to drive positive organizational impact. Our employees are the key to our success and help us stand out from our competitors. The base pay range for this role is $110,000 to $140,000. The final compensation offer may vary based on factors such as experience, education, skills, and location. We offer competitive pay, paid time off, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan.

Lanco is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline (including termination), evaluation, training, and development opportunities, etc., are made without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender-related identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, military status, protected disability, citizenship, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.