Feeny
Chefman

Mechanical Engineer III at Chefman (Mahwah, NJ)

Chefman· Mahwah, NJ· $95k–$115k·

Role details

Salary
$95k–$115k
Level
Mid level

Job description

We are seeking a driven and hands-on Mechanical Engineer III to join our Product Development team. The ideal candidate brings strong CAD skills and practical experience contributing to consumer products from concept through production, including collaboration with overseas factories in China. This role plays a key part in ensuring designs are manufacturable, high-quality, and cost-effective throughout all stages of development.

Key Responsibilities

  • Contribute to the mechanical design, development, and manufacturing of new and existing products.
  • Execute CAD modeling and detailed design work, ensuring accuracy, manufacturability, and alignment with product and industrial design intent.
  • Collaborate with China-based factories on tooling, materials, and production processes, supporting DFM best practices.
  • Work closely with Product Development, Industrial Design, and Electrical Engineering teams to support innovation and resolve technical challenges.
  • Manage assigned projects or components independently while escalating complex issues as needed.
  • Support all phases of the product lifecycle — from concept and prototyping to validation, pilot builds, and mass production.
  • Assist in evaluating and troubleshooting factory tooling and injection molding processes to improve yield and reduce costs.
  • Perform design validation and reliability testing, analyze results, and recommend corrective actions.
  • Support investigations into product quality issues in partnership with Quality, Compliance, and Legal teams.
  • Participate in product safety, compliance, and documentation reviews, including IP-related considerations.

Qualifications & Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering and product development, preferably in CPG, electronics, or durable goods.
  • Strong proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks or equivalent) with a focus on manufacturable design.
  • Experience collaborating with overseas factories, including tooling support and production troubleshooting.
  • Solid understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
  • Hands-on, solutions-oriented engineer with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams.
  • Familiarity with injection molding, metal stamping, and other high-volume manufacturing processes.
  • Experience supporting projects through multiple stages of the product development lifecycle.

Salary Range (commensurate with experience) $95,000—$115,000 USD

Why work at Chefman

  • Hands-On Engineering Culture: For engineers, the role involves deep work on embedded systems, IoT, and firmware for physical products—offering a tangible sense of creation (e.g., testing a "Volcano Waffle Maker").
  • Rapid Innovation Cycle: The company moves at the pace of a startup (small teams, 110 employees) but operates in the high-volume manufacturing world.
  • Hybrid/In-Office Policy: Roles are explicitly "In-Office" in Mahwah, NJ, with "Typical time on-site: None" listed for some roles on Built In, indicating flexibility but a preference for in-person collaboration.
  • Perks & Benefits: Offers healthcare (dental, vision, life insurance), 401(K), generous PTO, employee discounts on products, free snacks, and "customized development tracks" for promotion.
  • Employee Rating Caveat: The company has a low employer rating (2.7/5.0 on LinkedIn from 82 reviews), with specific weaknesses noted in Compensation (2.6) and Culture (2.7). This is a significant caveat for prospective employees.

Application questions