Chefman

Senior Mechanical Engineer at Chefman (Mahwah, NJ)

Chefman· Mahwah, NJ· $120k–$140k·

Role details

Salary
$120k–$140k
Level
Senior

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled, self-motivated, and hands-on Senior Mechanical Engineer to join our Product Development team. The ideal candidate will be a proactive self-starter and CAD expert with proven experience taking consumer products from concept through production, including close collaboration with overseas factories in China. This role focuses on delivering manufacturable, high-quality, and cost-effective product designs across all development stages.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the mechanical design, development, and manufacturing of new and existing products.
  • Own CAD modeling and detailed design, ensuring manufacturability, and alignment with product and industrial design intent.
  • Collaborate closely with China-based factories, evaluating tooling, materials, and production processes while ensuring DFM best practices.
  • Partner with Product Development, Industrial Design, and Electrical Engineering teams to drive innovation and resolve technical challenges.
  • Work independently and proactively to move projects forward, maintaining ownership through all stages of the development cycle.
  • Support all phases of the product lifecycle — from concept and prototyping to validation, pilot builds, and mass production.
  • Evaluate and troubleshoot factory tooling and injection molding processes to improve yield and reduce costs.
  • Conduct design validation and reliability testing, analyze results, and implement corrective actions.
  • Investigate and resolve product quality issues, working closely with Quality, Compliance, and Legal teams.
  • Participate in product safety and compliance reviews, including documentation and Intellectual Property (IP) assessments.

Qualifications & Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in mechanical engineering and product development, ideally in CPG, electronics, or durable goods.
  • Advanced proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks or equivalent) with a focus on precision and manufacturability.
  • Direct experience collaborating with overseas factories, including tooling evaluation and production troubleshooting.
  • Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
  • Self-starter with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach and strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
  • Familiarity with injection molding, metal stamping, and other high-volume manufacturing processes.
  • Proven success managing projects through multiple development stages.

Salary Range (commensurate with experience) $120,000—$140,000 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