Overview

Job Description Job Description Description ABOUT THE COMPANY Central Home Brands is a division of Central Garden & Pet, focused on designing and manufacturing soft goods (outdoor cushions, pillows, and pet products) for both Retail and eCommerce. ABOUT THE ROLE We're building the next generation of outdoor and pet products-and we're looking for a Product Development Engineer to help bring them to life. You'll work hands-on with products, collaborate directly with manufacturing, and have real influence on how products are designed and produced at scale. The Product Development Engineer will focus on engineering initiatives at our Fort Wayne, IN manufacturing facility, while working closely with cross-functional partners, including Product Development, Design, Sales, Operations, and Sourcing. The ideal candidate has experience in textile engineering and demonstrates a strong work ethic, flexibility, and attention to detail. They will leverage their experience in product design, materials, manufacturing processes, and quality systems to ensure products meet performance, cost, and aesthetic requirements. This position reports to the Director of Product Development and may be based in Bingham Farms, MI (Corporate) or Fort Wayne, IN (Manufacturing Plant). Domestic travel between 25% to 50% is required. If you're excited about building consumer products from concept to production in a collaborative, hands-on environment, we'd love to hear from you! What You'll Do Engineer products from concept through validation, to enable volume manufacturing. This includes specification development, prototyping, and testing.Lead projects or small teams within product engineering, with opportunities to grow into broader technical or people leadership responsibilities.Leverage prior experience with textiles, soft goods, and sewing techniques to achieve the desired product goals.Develop and maintain 3D product models and technical specifications to support domestic and international prototyping.Identify opportunities for cost reduction, product improvement, and process optimization. Partner cross-functionally with Product Development, Design, Item Setup, and Production teams to ensure engineering accuracy and alignment as products transition from development to production.Manage technical documentation, item specifications, and product data within CAD and PLM systems.Provide leadership input across Technical Services processes, with scope to take ownership of key areas such as engineering drawing specifications, bills of materials, routing set-up, cut layouts, packing guidance, rate evaluations, and standard operating procedures.Maintain up-to-date knowledge of material technologies, manufacturing processes, and consumer product trends relevant to Technical Services and Product Development and actively share insights that inform team strategy and product decisions.Contribute to additional projects and initiatives as business needs evolve. Professional Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in EngineeringMinimum of 5 years of experience in textile engineering, soft goods, or a related fieldProven ability to lead teams or projects, with experience transitioning from individual contributor to first-level people leadership. Required Skills: Proficiency with CAD Software (Auto CAD, Turbo CAD, or similar) Proficiency with 3D Modelling Software (Clo3D or similar) Ability to create and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and BOMsStrong competency in Microsoft Office Programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)Highly detail-oriented, with the ability to manage accuracy while maintaining a big-picture perspective. Flexibility to support special projects across Product Development Engineering, R&D, and Manufacturing beyond daily responsibilities.Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and visual) to describe technical details in a relatable way to a variety of audiences.Excellent project management and organizational abilities Strong understanding of materi