Product Development Engineer

Position Summary

The Product Engineer – Philippines converts design concepts, development samples, customer requirements, and product briefs into accurate, production-ready engineering solutions. The role is responsible for drawings, construction, materials, hardware, bills of materials, prototypes, testing, quality requirements, and manufacturing issue resolution.

This role requires independent judgment, strong technical execution, early identification of risk, and ownership of assigned products and issues through documented resolution.

Based in Angeles City, Pampanga, the role reports to the Director of Product Engineering and works within PALECEK’s regional Product Engineering Division. The position coordinates closely with the Director, International Supply Chain – Philippines, and with Product Development, Design, Quality Assurance, Supplier Performance, Account Management, Hospitality, factories, and US-based teams.

Key Responsibilities

Product Engineering & Documentation

• Translate briefs, sketches, renderings, photographs, samples, and customer requirements into accurate 2D and 3D engineering deliverables.

• Prepare production packages including dimensioned drawings, construction details, sections, material specifications, bills of materials, cut lists, hardware, assembly information, finish references, and packaging requirements.

• Define dimensions, tolerances, datum points, interfaces, and performance requirements that factories can consistently execute.

• Verify alignment among drawings, specifications, bills of materials, samples, and system data before release.

• Maintain disciplined revision control and promptly document approved technical changes.

Construction & Design for Manufacturing

• Develop practical construction solutions for wood, rattan, metal, upholstery, resin, composite, natural-fiber, and mixed-material furniture.

• Evaluate joinery, frames, load paths, hardware, fasteners, adhesives, upholstery, ergonomics, clearances, finishes, and assembly methods for strength, appearance, serviceability, and repeatability.

• Apply design-for-manufacturing principles based on supplier processes, machinery, tooling, craftsmanship, material behavior, capacity, and production constraints.

• Identify structural, dimensional, material, finish, packaging, and manufacturing risks and recommend technically sound alternatives.

• Conduct value engineering that preserves design intent, safety, quality, and performance while improving cost, reliability, material utilization, or manufacturability.

Prototype, Sample & Pre-Production Validation

• Work directly with factory R&D, sample-room, engineering, and production teams during prototype and sample construction.

• Inspect prototypes and samples against drawings, design intent, finishes, comfort requirements, workmanship standards, and performance expectations.

• Measure, test, photograph, redline, and document findings clearly enough for factories and internal teams to complete corrections.

• Diagnose technical problems, identify root causes, establish corrective actions, and verify results before products advance.

• Confirm that approved samples, drawings, bills of materials, finishes, hardware, and manufacturing instructions establish a consistent production standard.

Testing, Quality & Compliance

• Apply applicable BIFMA, ASTM, CPSC, customer, and PALECEK requirements to construction, durability, stability, safety, and testing decisions.

• Partner with Quality Assurance to establish critical-to-quality characteristics, inspection points, tolerances, performance thresholds, standards, and defect criteria.

• Prepare or support test plans, review results and failures, and engineer evidence-based corrective actions.

• Investigate inspection findings, claims, defects, and recurring quality issues; document root cause, containment, corrective action, and verification.

• Maintain traceable technical records supporting production and inspection control.

Production & Factory Support

• Provide hands-on engineering support during pilot runs, initial production, process changes, and complex issue resolution.

• Evaluate deviations and determine whether rework, repair, substitution, process adjustment, drawing revision, or escalation is required.

• Collaborate with suppliers on jigs, fixtures, gauges, templates, assembly sequences, and control methods that improve consistency and reduce variation.

• Verify that approved changes are correctly implemented on the factory floor and reflected in current documentation.

• Use measurements, data, samples, test results, and direct observation to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.

Materials, Components & Bills of Materials

• Specify and evaluate materials, hardware, finishes, adhesives, foams, textiles, and other components for design, performance, production, and market requirements.

• Confirm fit, interfaces, tolerances, interchangeability, availability, and manufacturing feasibility before release.

• Create and maintain accurate bills of materials, usage data, component specifications, and engineering information for sampling, costing, purchasing, production, and quality control.

• Review supplier proposals for alternate materials, components, or processes and document technical acceptance or required changes.

Cross-Functional Execution

• Work with Design and Product Development to preserve product intent while creating durable, manufacturable solutions.

• Coordinate with Quality Assurance, Account Management, Hospitality, Sourcing, Logistics, and US-based teams to resolve technical questions and support priorities.

• Keep the Director of Product Engineering and Director, International Supply Chain – Philippines informed of status, risks, factory-support needs, and decisions requiring escalation.

• Participate in product reviews, supplier meetings, sample evaluations, and project discussions, documenting decisions, ownership, and due dates.

• Manage assigned priorities, communicate exceptions proactively, and deliver accurate work on schedule.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain current records in approved drawing repositories, PLM, ERP, project-management, and collaboration systems.

• Ensure technical files are complete, organized, properly named, and accessible.

• Apply lessons from testing, production, inspection, claims, and supplier performance to improve engineering decisions and documentation.

• Develop and use checklists, templates, calculations, and technical methods that improve accuracy, consistency, and execution speed.

Travel & Supplier Engagement

• Travel regularly within the Philippines for development, prototype review, testing, production support, and issue resolution.

• Travel occasionally elsewhere in Asia or to the United States as required.

• Represent PALECEK professionally in all supplier, partner, and industry interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, industrial design, furniture design, furniture technology, product engineering, or a related field; equivalent advanced furniture-engineering experience may be considered.

• At least seven years of progressively responsible, hands-on experience in furniture product engineering, development, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Demonstrated ability to independently engineer complex residential, hospitality, or commercial furniture from concept through prototype, testing, and production.

• Advanced knowledge of furniture construction involving wood, rattan, metal, upholstery, resin, composites, natural fibers, and mixed materials.

• Strong understanding of joinery, structural behavior, hardware, fasteners, adhesives, finishing, upholstery, ergonomics, tolerances, assembly, and manufacturing processes.

• Advanced AutoCAD proficiency and proficiency in at least one 3D platform such as SolidWorks, Rhino, 3ds Max, or comparable software.

• Proven ability to create and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, tolerances, and manufacturing documentation.

• Working knowledge of applicable BIFMA, ASTM, CPSC, customer, and product-performance requirements.

• Strong factory-floor problem-solving, prototype evaluation, root-cause analysis, corrective-action, testing, and production-support skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Filipino.

• Excellent attention to detail, organization, analytical judgment, accountability, and follow-through.

• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines while working independently across cultures, functions, countries, and time zones.

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly within the Philippines and occasionally internationally.

• Experience supporting US furniture brands, retailers, importers, hospitality customers, or international product-development organizations.

• Knowledge of natural and handcrafted materials and the controls required to manage dimensional and visual variation.

• Experience with furniture testing, test-fixture development, packaging validation, or compliance documentation.

• Familiarity with PLM, ERP, document-control, project-management, and product-data systems.

• Portfolio or work examples demonstrating complex products, production drawings, construction solutions, or manufacturing problem-solving.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonus

• Health and wellness benefits

• Professional growth and technical development opportunities

• Collaborative, international work environment

• Opportunity to engineer distinctive products for a globally recognized, design-driven furniture brand

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, portfolio or representative work samples, and professional references to [email protected]. Only candidates whose qualifications closely match the position requirements will be contacted.