---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer III at Chefman'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-iii-chefman-mahwah-vsd6xbhnwykf'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-29'
---

# Mechanical Engineer III at Chefman

- **Company:** Chefman
- **Location:** Mahwah, NJ
- **Compensation:** $95k–$115k
- **Posted:** 2026-09-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-29
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chefman/jobs/4423370009

## 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

## About Chefman

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Chefman is a leading North American brand of small kitchen appliances, designing and distributing products like air fryers, toaster ovens, and electric kettles, alongside its digitally connected smart appliance brand, CHEF iQ.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Privately Held)
- **Headquarters**: Mahwah, New Jersey, United States
- **Founded**: 2011
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (entity is RJ Brands, LLC)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics, Smart Home Appliances
- Target customers: B2C (home cooks and families), B2B (retailers and distributors)
- Mission or purpose statement: "To provide the world with innovative products that make everyday cooking a better experience." Vision: "To have every kitchen cooking with Chefman products."

## Products & Services
- **[Chefman Core Line]**: A full range of premium small kitchen appliances including electric kettles, air fryers, toaster ovens, cookware, and food processors. The company claims to be "America’s #1 brand of electric kettles."
- **[CHEF iQ Brand]**: Launched in 2020, an ecosystem of digitally connected kitchen appliances (smart cookers, probes) that use guided cooking experiences and an app to streamline food preparation. This represents a pivot toward IoT and smart home technology.
- **[Product Development Services]**: The company has an in-house engineering and design team that handles everything from firmware (Embedded Linux, BSP) to industrial design (SolidWorks, PTC Creo).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (Privately Held)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of **$59.1 million** (as of 2026)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: No public funding rounds reported (likely bootstrapped or funded via private debt/equity).
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 110 employees, up **12.5% year-over-year** (+18 people). Operating in 6 countries (US, Mexico, UK, China, Brazil, Finland). Recent opening of a manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China. Strong online presence with 6,735 LinkedIn followers (+10.3% yearly growth).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Brand Dominance in a Niche**: Clear market leadership in electric kettles, providing a strong baseline for cross-selling other appliances.
- **In-House Technical Depth**: Unlike many consumer appliance brands that outsource everything, Chefman maintains a significant in-house engineering team (firmware, software, IoT) and a design department, allowing for rapid product iteration and smart product integration.
- **Dual-Brand Strategy**: The established "Chefman" brand for traditional appliances and the "CHEF iQ" brand for premium, connected smart appliances allow the company to target both value-conscious and tech-forward segments without diluting the core brand.

## Strategic Focus
- **Smart Appliance Ecosystem**: Heavy investment in the CHEF iQ brand and its connected cooking experience (app, guided recipes, IoT hardware).
- **Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Growth**: Active management of its website (Shopify) and digital marketing (TikTok, influencer/affiliate programs) suggests a push to reduce reliance on third-party retailers.
- **Global Manufacturing & Supply Chain**: The new factory in China indicates a focus on vertical integration and controlling the supply chain for cost and quality.
- **Engineering-Driven Innovation**: Hiring for roles like Senior Embedded Linux/BSP Engineer and Senior Firmware Engineer signals a commitment to building complex software-defined hardware.

## Why Work Here
- **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.

## Sources
1. [LinkedIn - Chefman & CHEF iQ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/chefman)
2. [Chefman Official Website - About Us](https://chefman.com/pages/about-us)
3. [Built In - Chefman Careers](https://builtin.com/company/chefman)
4. [Greenhouse - Jobs at Chefman](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chefman)

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