Principal Engineer, New Product Development
- Battersea, South West London
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Independently execute and lead design studies to solve complex technical and consumer-facing problems throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Take end-to-end ownership of design-from concept generation, CAD modeling, prototyping, and testing through to design verification.
- Drive product design decisions based on engineering principles, consumer insights, and manufacturing feasibility.
- Continuously evaluate and refine designs for cost, manufacturability, performance, and quality.
- Apply a deep understanding of materials, mechanisms, and high-volume manufacturing processes to create optimized solutions.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional global teams (Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Marketing, and Operations) across the US, UK, and China to ensure seamless product integration.
- Use rapid prototyping and hands-on iteration to test hypotheses and validate concepts quickly.
- Communicate technical findings, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization.
- Contribute to a culture of innovation by championing bold ideas while balancing executional excellence.
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- 6+ years of experience in product development, ideally within the consumer products or small appliances space.
- Demonstrated track record of delivering robust, elegant, and innovative mechanical solutions from concept through launch.
- Proficient in 3D CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo) and rapid prototyping techniques.
- Strong experience with hands-on mechanical and electrical fabrication (e.g., power tools, sheet metal work, wiring).
- Familiarity with small appliance components and systems, including motors, heaters, sensors, and PCBAs.
- Comfortable with test equipment and data analysis tools; advanced Excel or equivalent skills preferred.
- Experience working in fast-paced, agile environments where quick iteration and learning are essential.
- Deep technical problem solver with strong mechanical engineering and physics fundamentals (e.g., fluid mechanics, heat transfer, kinematics).
- Analytical mindset with excellent attention to detail and a bias toward action and accountability.
- Comfortable working hands-on in the lab-prototyping, testing, debugging, and iterating.
- Exceptional ability to distill complex issues into clear plans and communicate them concisely to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong judgment in evaluating technical trade-offs, with a focus on consumer value and product performance.
- Confident, independent thinker who actively contributes to technical debates and welcomes constructive feedback.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.