---
title: 'Product Quality Engineer at Chefman'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/product-quality-engineer-chefman-mahwah-j2sb57dqgmzm'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Product Quality Engineer at Chefman

- **Company:** Chefman
- **Location:** Mahwah, NJ
- **Compensation:** $85k–$100k
- **Posted:** 2026-06-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chefman/jobs/4299914009

## Job description

## About Us

Chefman is one of North America's leading brands of small kitchen appliances, committed to building best-in-class products that make cooking accessible and enjoyable. In 2020, we launched CHEF iQ an ecosystem of connected smart kitchen appliances designed to transform how the world cooks through intuitive guided cooking experiences and IoT-enabled technology.

## About the Role

As Chefman grows its portfolio of connected and electromechanical kitchen appliances, we are looking for a highly analytical Product Quality Engineer to take ownership of products post-launch. This role bridges R&D, customer support, and global manufacturing partners ensuring long-term product health, driving down return rates, and building the post-launch support systems our business needs to scale. You will be the dedicated technical champion for Chefman products in the field, freeing our R&D and TPM teams to stay focused on what's next.

## Responsibilities

After-Sale Trend Analysis & Root Cause Identification

- Monitor and analyze return data (RMA trends), customer support tickets, and refurbishment logs to proactively identify mechanical, electrical, and firmware failure patterns across the portfolio
- Perform hands-on root cause analysis on returned units to determine whether issues stem from component defects, assembly errors, design gaps, or user behavior
- Build and maintain dashboards that give leadership clear visibility into field performance over time
- Prioritize issues by frequency, severity, and cost impact to ensure the right problems receive engineering attention first

Support Enablement & Technical Communication

- Partner with R&D and TPMs late in the development cycle to build troubleshooting trees, FAQs, and technical training materials before each product launches
- Serve as the dedicated technical point of contact for customer support, fielding escalated queries and insulating the R&D team from daily support noise
- Maintain and update the internal technical knowledge base as ECNs or firmware updates are rolled out post-launch
- Translate complex electromechanical concepts into clear, step-by-step instructions that non-technical support agents can confidently use

Factory Coordination & Issue Resolution

- Drive technical communication with global manufacturing facilities when field data or component failures require factory-side intervention
- Issue and track formal corrective action requests using 8D problem-solving methodologies with suppliers and assembly lines to implement permanent quality gates
- Coordinate with R&D to push design tweaks, alternative component sourcing, or fixture updates back to the production line to resolve ongoing field issues
- Maintain accurate records of all open corrective actions, resolution timelines, and closure status across the supplier base

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work closely with TPMs to ensure a clean handoff from active development to post-launch support
- Collaborate with quality, supply chain, and customer support teams to align on issue prioritization and resolution strategies
- Participate in product launch readiness reviews to ensure support infrastructure is in place before products reach consumers

## Qualifications

Please Note: Chefman is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and ongoing basis without the need for current or future employer-sponsored visa support, including H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, or any other work authorization requiring sponsorship. Applications from candidates requiring sponsorship now or in the future will not be considered.

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Quality Engineering or equivalent hands-on hardware experience
- 3–5 years of engineering experience in a hardware environment handling complex electromechanical assemblies including PCBs, wiring harnesses, sensors, enclosures, and moving mechanical parts
- Demonstrated experience performing root cause analysis and driving corrective actions using 8D, 5-Why, or similar structured methodologies
- Exceptional ability to translate technical engineering information into clear instructions for non-technical audiences
- Proficient in data analysis comfortable pulling trends from support ticketing systems, RMA databases, Excel, or BI tools
- Experience working with overseas manufacturing facilities with an understanding of quality control procedures, supplier management, and navigating time zone differences
- Familiarity with ECN processes, firmware update cycles, and post-launch change management in a consumer hardware environment
- Experience with connected or IoT consumer products is a strong plus
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple products simultaneously
- Willingness and ability to travel to China approximately 25% of the time to support factory visits, supplier audits, and corrective action reviews

## What We Offer

- A high-impact role at the intersection of engineering, operations, and customer experience at one of North America's fastest-growing kitchen appliance brands
- The opportunity to directly influence product quality, customer satisfaction, and return rate reduction across an innovative connected product portfolio
- A collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where your work is visible, valued, and drives measurable business outcomes
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and room to grow within a company redefining the kitchen experience

Salary Range (commensurate with experience) $85,000—$100,000 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)

## Other roles at Chefman

- [Product Test Technician — Firmware & Connected Devices (Entry Level)](https://feeny.ai/job/product-test-technician-firmware-connected-devices-entry-level-chefman-mahwah-x5gd0zy8v88d) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Food Safety and Thermal Processing Consultant](https://feeny.ai/job/food-safety-and-thermal-processing-consultant-chefman-remote-9xv4s3pbqgzm)
- [Senior Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-chefman-mahwah-bdmq8zyygkke) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Group Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/group-product-manager-chefman-mahwah-xm69h00692qx) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Director of Overseas Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-overseas-manufacturing-chefman-mahwah-bz6j3363wqmw) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Product Cost Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/product-cost-specialist-chefman-mahwah-19t031vh2hf6) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Director of Ecommerce](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-ecommerce-chefman-mahwah-2hvckcspdf9b) — Mahwah, NJ
- [MLOps Engineer / DevOps Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mlops-engineer-devops-engineer-chefman-mahwah-08bztqb9ysqm) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Procurement Manager - Component Sourcing](https://feeny.ai/job/procurement-manager-component-sourcing-chefman-mahwah-4yjm97f1txr9) — Mahwah, NJ
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-chefman-mahwah-heraypswp0rn) — Mahwah, NJ