Job Title:  Product Engineer

Department: Engineering

FLSA Status:  Regular, Full Time, Salaried, Exempt

Approved Date: April 10, 2019

Location:  5107 Kissell Avenue, Altoona, PA

Summary

Primary technical point of contact and in-house expert for a wide range of mechanical and electrical customer projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Coordinates and directs projects, making detailed plans to accomplish goals and directing the integration of technical activities.
• Makes engineering decisions that require high level of judgment.
• Provides technical guidance and ensures sound engineering documentation is provided to manufacturing.
• Working on cross functional teams, serves as the technical expert to help create project timelines, budgets, and customer communication.
• Provide training and trouble-shooting for technical issues, both in-house and customer site
• Performs administrative functions such as reviewing others work, writing reports, justification of expenditures and provides input for service and procurement departments.
• Assures the engineered product conforms to UL, State and National code requirements.
• Assists in maintaining; departmental library of regulatory standards codes.
• Analyze cost reduction ideas, and reviewing for manufacturability
• Initiates conferences and liaise with production, project management and sales staff to discuss project specifications and procedures for prototypes and new product startup.
• Recommends changes, reviews progress, and approves cost estimates or proposals.
• Writes work instructions for Install-trouble shooting documentation and production process manuals.
• Responsible to create, review and understand engineering specifications, drawings, BOMs, and other technical information
• Works with customers, production team, and others to lead new product introduction and continual improvement projects through all aspects of the project life cycle.
• Initiates and leads patent search and patent application process.
• Provides technical support in both electrical and mechanical products to both in-house project groups and customer

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Oversee various personnel in support of Engineering in their daily duties and assign tasks as needed.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Use of Technology - Demonstrates required skills; adapts to new technologies; troubleshoots technological problems; uses technology to increase productivity; keeps technical skills up to date.
• Design - Generates creative solutions; translates concepts and information into images; uses feedback to modify designs; applies design principles; demonstrates attention to detail.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Managing Customer Focus - Promotes customer focus; establishes customer service standards; provides training in customer service delivery; monitors customer satisfaction; develops new approaches to meeting customer needs.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Education and/or Experience: 

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or Applied Sciences
• 7+ years’ experience with Structural Mechanics
• Proficiency in both classical and numerical methods of solving mechanical analytical challenges
• Expertise in Mechanical drawing, design and geometric tolerancing
• Experience with CAD, PRO-E, Inventor, and Solid Works
• Experience with FEA stress analysis for fatigue, shock, vibration and wind load
• Experience with sign manufacturing materials and processes, including thermoformed plastics, aluminum, steel fabrication and paint

Accessibility

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Since its inception as Central Blair Electric in 1959, Blair Companies has expanded into 21 diverse businesses, including the Image Group with signs, fixtures, lighting and architectural imaging; the Development Group with construction, maintenance contracting, coal and real estate; and the Venture Group, with stakes in a wide variety of businesses. Blair's 1000+ associates are largely based in Central PA, with additional offices in TN, TX and beyond serving the largest companies around the world. We believe our greatest asset is our hard-working loyal team of people. With a view of four generations and growing, we see our company and community as a deeply intertwined family.

We strive at Blair Companies to create a culture that provides ongoing rewards and career opportunities for our employees. Beyond compensation and benefits, feedback from our employees has demonstrated that there are many things that contribute to overall job satisfaction, including our focus on advancement opportunities, training and mutual respect. With this in mind, please see below for a brief overview of the benefits and policies that exist at Blair.


WHY BLAIR COMPANIES IS DIFFERENT

Diversity in Business

• Blair Companies is comprised of four business units: Signs, Fixtures & Millwork, Architectural Imaging and Lighting
• Filling multiple business needs allows the company to build off of each division to grow the company and provide long term stability
• Blair is a one-stop shop for our customers’ needs to open a new location or reimage an existing location. Services include:
  • Project Management
  • Engineering
  • Manufacturing
  • Installation & Service

Family Owned Company

• The importance of family is part of the company vision. Our four Company Values are:
  • Integrity
  • Excellence
  • Innovation
  • Family
• These values are important at Blair to the point they are part of our employee performance evaluations and raise process

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Prescription Medicine Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account Option (FSA)
• Retirement Plan
• Free Life Insurance for all employees + additional available at group rates
• Paid Leave Program – up to 5 weeks per year based upon length of service
• Gainsharing Program – quarterly bonuses based upon company performance and service
• Manager Bonus Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 15-Year Award / 25-Year Bonus
• Weekly Pay Schedule / Direct Deposit / Paperless Checks
• Loan Program through local Credit Union
• Company Logo Uniforms & Products – distributed free annually
• Easy access to work related items through vending system
• Company funded protective footwear program
• Prescription safety glasses reimbursement program
• Break Area – with air conditioning, microwaves, refrigerators, and convenience store type vending system with Keurig machines
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free Bottled Spring Water

• Job Postings allow for internal candidates to apply before public
• Individual Performance Objectives (IPO) – allows for supervisor / employee to develop clear job progression goals

Company Culture

• Flexible work schedules promote healthier work-life balance
• Annual Employee Picnic
• Annual Holiday Party
• Events – Halloween costume contest, Team Jersey Days, Military Support Days, etc.
• Blair Cares – employee-run committee raises money to assist fellow employees in need
• Community / Sponsorship Donation program
• Blair Scholarship
• Casual dress environment in most areas
• Birthday and Anniversary Recognition

Communication

• Blair Information Center (BIC) – employee website accessible through any smart device for company events, news, forms and documents
• Quarterly Meetings with free catered lunch
• New Employee Welcome Meetings
• Employee Newsletter
• Bi-Weekly Manufacturing Update Meetings
• Monthly Lunch with Leadership Group
• Annual Employee Feedback Survey
• Open Door Policy
• Online Payroll Information System