Sincerely, they all seem to me a little vague, so I ask you what this figure is about? Is it an industrializer or a paper mill? ...I am afraid that my current work (projectist) is very different from this and that it is a little "practical" but very bureaucratic. .
It is absolutely not a paperwork job but can be challenging as long as you are also available to a continuous training that expands your knowledge that you certainly already hold in the design field. requires personal skills and experience such as: orientation to the result, spirit of initiative, problem solving, analytical thinking, predisposition to work in team and interpersonal relationships, strong sense to innovation and change.
By integrating the information you have already provided in previous posts, based on the points you have reported, I expound them to facilitate the understanding of individual tasks (which may have variations from one company to another).
- to manage all the technical aspects of the component during the entire life cycle.the product engineer has the responsibility to ensure the design of new products in line with the expectations of customers.
the projects can be of two types (of course depends on the type of product and company): complete standard projects that lead to the development of a new product but within an existing family; non-standard complete designs that lead to the development of new products until final drawings are prepared.
the sales department will assign specific new product development projects and transmit through the product sheet all the basic information and specifications to allow the start of the design activity in full autonomy.
the product engineer will update on the state of progress work in compliance with the agreed timing and, in the case of non-respect, to share new ones.
the product engineer has the responsibility to define design solutions and propose any innovations in relation to the achievement of product specifications, define functional and structural characteristics and realize the individual phases of design. if necessary, it performs static and/or dynamic finite elements analysis and processes calculations related to the functional performance of the product to be designed.
it will then follow the product during the entire life cycle evaluating any improvements or corrective interventions based on feedback from users.
it may be required, or may decide on its own, to go to users to verify applications both as a pre-sale and after-sale service.
-development of feasibility studies of the product, manage the prototype and release in production of the same.
- define test programs and validate the productthe product engineer must coordinate or perform in person, the feasibility study and has a support function in the activity of prototyping and testing, so it follows the analysis of prototypes for their validation. if necessary it interfaces with colleagues in the testing area to conduct and monitor the practical tests required by the customer to homologate or approve the project.
-cooperate with other departments for cost reduction (production engineers, designers etc.)with the support of buyers, maintains relations with suppliers for the definition of materials and components in the design phase.
collaborates with the process engineering (if present) for improvements and process innovations both from requirements related to new products and for innovations that can lead to better production efficiency.
-make product presentations to the customermust produce all the necessary documentation (slide, power point, movies, catalogues, manuals, etc.) to illustrate the product and its characteristics so that other corporate bodies (sales, product manager, marketing, etc.) can in turn have the necessary tools to present the product and its peculiarities.
he may also be responsible for submitting the product in the context of trade fairs or with customers.
Is there any question I should ask to "seat" the approach that the company has towards this figure?
the first question you could ask to whom you will have to account, in practice your position in the corporate organization; the answer will make you understand the level of responsibility you will be required.
another question, in my opinion, you have to ask yourself:
are you willing to commit yourself to grow and have future (even economic) satisfactions by putting on the plate your will to learn new things and not to consider fractioned time as if you were a normal executive employee? This last point I'll take it back because in case you get the call that highlights a problem 5 minutes before the end of your turn, on Friday night, you will have to be available to face it immediately.
If you take this activity enthusiastically you will not be the butler of anyone and you will surely face problems that you will overcome with commitment, imagination, experience, perseverance and collaboration, but you will also have many satisfactions.
