Lead Product Development Engineer

Location: Kansas City, MO, US

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Overview

At Brunson Instrument Company, we design and deliver precision measurement and alignment solutions that support some of the most demanding engineering and manufacturing environments. Our team is driven by technical excellence, customer partnership, and a commitment to helping customers achieve accuracy, efficiency, and confidence in their operations. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a motivated Lead Product Development Engineer to be a key contributor to Brunson’s growth and innovation pipeline.

Reporting to the Vice President, Engineering and Product Development, the Lead Product Development Engineer will

own the full lifecycle of new product development including driving projects through Brunson’s stage-gate NPD process from concept generation and feasibility through detailed design, prototyping, and launch readiness. You will apply rigorous engineering first-principles thinking and analytical problem-solving to create products that meet demanding performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements. Additional as the senior technical leader on assigned development projects, you will set the engineering direction and elevate the team around you.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of new products, from concept generation through design release.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles and analytical methods, including stress, tolerance, kinematic, and finite element analysis (FEA), to validate and optimize designs prior to prototyping.
• Drive assigned projects through Brunson's stage-gate New Product Development (NPD) process, owning key deliverables, decisions, and progress from concept through market launch.
• Develop and evaluate multiple design concepts, using data-driven decision-making to balance performance, cost, quality, and manufacturability.
• Plan, execute, and document prototype builds and testing programs; analyze results and implement design improvements based on findings.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the engineering team, promoting best practices in product design, analysis, and development.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, and other stakeholders to translate customer needs into clear engineering requirements and product specifications.
• Maintain comprehensive engineering documentation, including design records, test reports, bills of materials (BOMs), engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes relevant to Brunson's product portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on new product development experience with mechanically focused products.
• Background in metrology, measurement systems, or optical-mechanical alignment preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering analytical methods (stress analysis, tolerance stack-up, GD&T, kinematics, FEA) to solve complex design problems.
• Proven experience leading products from concept through production. Additional ability to incorporate ergonomic and aesthetic considerations into product designs preferred but not required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to present technical content clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity with CNC machining, DFM, and Lean product development is beneficial but not required.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with strong organizational skills and the ability to independently manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD, SolidWorks, and Microsoft Office products. Experience with FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, or SolidWorks Simulation) a plus.
• Additional experience with PDM/PLM and ERP systems ideal.

OMNI is honored to be retained in this search. We appreciate your referrals to professionals who may have an interest in this outstanding opportunity. Formal interest accepted through the OMNI Executive Career Portal. Please direct all inquiries to:

OMNI Human Resource Solutions

Meredith Baker, Search Consultant – mbaker@omnihrm.com  

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers.