Product Engineer - Senior

About Pratt Miller, an Oshkosh company

Pratt Miller is a product development company in motorsports, defense, and mobility industries providing clients with product engineering and low-volume production solutions. Our range of research & development, engineering, prototype manufacturing, test & validation, and low-rate production capability help our customers bring their high-quality products to market faster.

OVERVIEW:

Our Product Engineers bridge the gap between design and production, ensuring that complex, high-performance mechanical systems move efficiently from concept to build. This position will focus on gearbox and transmission product development, supporting the development, assembly, and validation of advanced driveline systems for defense projects. The ideal candidate combines a strong foundation in product lifecycle management (PLM), requirements management, change management, and the ability to lead a cross-functional team to ensure streamlined program execution.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND SKILLS:

Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to all of the following:

• Support the design and development of geartrain systems, including gears, shafts, bearings, and housings.
• Lead the DFMEA process, ensuring all potential failure modes are mitigated through design or process controls.
• Lead build events, test readiness reviews, and configuration control from prototype through production.
• Support requirements management in alignment with program objectives and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain mBOM, pBOM, and service BOMs to ensure accuracy throughout design iterations.
• Develop technical and service manuals to support training and service activities.
• Lead change management for the geartrain system, maintaining design control documentation and configuration integrity.
• Lead supplier development and production readiness activities, ensuring quality and timing requirements are met.
• Support the development and optimization of manufacturing processes for gearbox and transmission assemblies, from prototype through low-rate production.
• Support the development and optimization of component manufacturing including the use of additive manufacturing, castings, forgings, composites, and automation opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with design engineers to ensure manufacturability, serviceability, and repeatability of components and assemblies.
• Support the development of process documentation, including work instructions, PFMEAs, control plans, and manufacturing flow diagrams.
• Coordinate with the Quality team to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and traceability requirements.
• Lead regular project meetings to provide manufacturing status updates and risk assessments.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to the responsibilities mentioned above, tasks relating to the following area will be assigned as required.

• Working knowledge of gearbox and driveline manufacturing methods including gear cutting, grinding, heat treatment, and inspection.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD (Creo, NX, Catia, or SolidWorks) for reviewing models, and interpreting prints, and supporting tooling design and development.
• Proficiency in Windchill or other PLM systems.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, MS Project, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills; able to collaborate with cross-functional engineering and production teams.
• Proactive mindset with exceptional multitasking capabilities.
• Ability to function independently in fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience with GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and CMM measurement.
• This specific role supports a U.S. DoD topic that is restricted to U.S. Citizens.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:

• BS in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (MS preferred).
• 5+ years of relevant experience in drivetrain or mechanical system manufacturing, preferably in defense, automotive, or high-performance industries.

DESIRED SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Experience leading prototype or low-rate production builds.
• Background in gear manufacturing, assembly, and inspection.
• Knowledge of government and defense product compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Sage, SAP, Epicor, etc.).
• Experience with PLM systems (Windchill)
• Understanding of heat treatment and surface finishing processes.
• Experience supporting DFM/A, D/PFMEA, and process validation activi