New Product Development (NPD) Engineer – Lawn & Garden Division

Ohio Steel Industries · Columbus, United States

Ohio Steel Industries is seeking a highly motivated New Product Development (NPD) Engineer to play a central role in executing the company’s evolving product innovation strategy. This position goes beyond traditional product design and focuses on delivering next-generation lawn and garden solutions that drive growth, differentiation, and long-term competitiveness.

The NPD Lawn and Garden Engineer will serve as a technical leader and innovation driver, translating Ohio Steel’s 3-Year Product Strategy into commercially successful products. The role combines hands-on engineering, product architecture development, and cross-functional leadership to accelerate innovation across existing and new product platforms.

This position is ideal for an engineer who thrives in a fast-moving environment and wants direct influence on product direction, technology adoption, and market expansion.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead engineering development of new lawn and garden products from concept generation through production launch.
• Translate strategic product roadmap initiatives into executable engineering plans.
• Develop product concepts that deliver competitive differentiation and customer value.
• Through new product development assist company in growing sales, profitability, and ensuring ROI on resources applied in NPD efforts.

Concept & Innovation Engineering

• Working with sales and business development, generate and evaluate new product concepts based on market trends, customer feedback, and competitive analysis.
• Build prototypes and proof-of-concept designs to validate feasibility.
• Collaborate with sales and business development teams to define product requirements and target specifications.
• Participate in ideation sessions supporting long-term product platform development.

Cross-Functional Project Execution

• Serve as engineering lead within cross-functional NPD teams for the lawn and garden products division.
• Coordinate activities between design, manufacturing, sourcing, quality, and external suppliers.
• Manage engineering timelines aligned with product launch schedules.
• Support business case development through cost modeling and technical feasibility analysis.

Design for Manufacturing & Cost Optimization

• Ensure new products are optimized for manufacturability, durability, and cost targets.
• Work closely with manufacturing teams on tooling, fabrication methods, and assembly processes.
• Identify opportunities for platform commonality and component standardization.

Testing, Validation & Launch Support

• Develop validation plans to ensure products meet performance and durability requirements.
• Oversee prototype testing and field validation programs.
• Support pilot builds and production ramp-up activities.
• Provide technical support during product launch and early production phases.
• Support supplier selection and technical development with domestic and international vendors.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in lawn & garden, outdoor power equipment (OPE), agricultural equipment, or consumer durable goods.
• 5+ years of product development or mechanical design experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading new product development projects from concept to launch.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD design (SolidWorks or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of fabrication processes including welding, sheet metal, stamping, and assemblies.
• Experience working cross-functionally in a manufacturing environment.
• Innovation mindset with practical engineering execution
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to balance creativity with manufacturability and cost
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Self-starter comfortable working in a fast-moving development environment

Success Metrics (First 24–36 Months)

• Successful launch of new products aligned with 3-Year Product Strategy roadmap.
• Reduction in development cycle time through improved NPD processes.
• Delivery of differentiated products that expand Ohio Steel’s market presence.
• Achievement of target cost, quality, and performance objectives at launch.
• Combination of office, prototype shop, manufacturing floor, and outdoor testing environments.
• Hands-on prototype development and field validation required.
• Occasional travel to suppliers, customers, and industry trade events.

Why Join Ohio Steel

• Direct influence on the future lawn and garden product portfolio and innovation strategy.
• Opportunity to help transition traditional lawn & garden equipment into next-generation solutions.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial engineering culture with visible impact.