Job Description
About Pratt Miller, An Oshkosh Company Pratt Miller is a product development company in motorsports, defense, and mobility industries providing clients with product engineering and low-volume production solutions. Our range of research & development, engineering, prototype manufacturing, test & validation, and low-rate production capability help our customers bring their high-quality products to market faster. Our Product Engineers bridge the gap between design and hands-on build execution, ensuring that complex, high-performance mechanical systems move efficiently from concept to functional prototype. This position will focus on early-stage defense systems product development, supporting prototype builds, system integration, and rapid design iteration. The ideal candidate brings experience working in fast-paced, product development environments and excels at translating design intent into hardware while capturing real-time build feedback to drive continuous improvement. This role requires strong collaboration across design, manufacturing, suppliers, and program leadership, with a focus on manufacturability, integration, and efficient progression toward production readiness. Essential Functions And Skills Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to all of the following: Serve as the primary liaison between design engineering and shop floor teams, ensuring alignment between design intent and physical build execution during prototype and development phases. Provide hands-on build and integration support for defense systems, leading prototype build events, troubleshooting issues in real time, and driving resolution through cross-functional coordination. Capture, document, and communicate build issues, nonconformances, and design gaps; drive corrective actions and track issues to closure. Collaborate with design engineering to ensure manufacturability, assembly feasibility, serviceability, and design robustness early in the product lifecycle. Support sourcing strategy and make vs. buy decisions, including supplier identification, technical evaluation, and ongoing supplier development to improve quality, manufacturability, and lead time. Coordinate part procurement activities including RFQs, technical reviews, and alignment with purchasing and suppliers to support prototype and development builds. Develop and mature engineering Bills of Material (eBOM) and support configuration management, change control, and requirements alignment in a dynamic development environment. Support the development and optimization of manufacturing strategies, including additive manufacturing, castings, forgings, composites, and automation, to enable efficient transition from prototype to production. Collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, purchasing, program management, and leadership to ensure program execution, risk mitigation, and alignment to cost, schedule, and performance targets. Support test readiness activities, technical documentation (including service manuals), and validation efforts to ensure successful system integration and delivery. Additional Requirements In addition to the responsibilities mentioned above, tasks relating to the following area will be assigned as required. Proficiency with 3D CAD (Creo, NX, Catia, or SolidWorks) for reviewing models, and interpreting prints, and supporting tooling design and development. Proficiency in Windchill or other PLM systems. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, MS Project, and PowerPoint. Excellent communication and teamwork skills; able to collaborate with cross-functional engineering and production teams. Proactive mindset with exceptional multitasking capabilities. Ability to function independently in fast-paced, dynamic environment. Experience with GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and CMM measurement. This specific role supports a U.S. DoD topic that is restricted to U.S. Citizens. Ability to obtain a security clearance. Education/Certification/Years Of Experience BS in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (MS preferred). 5+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing, preferably in defense, automotive, or high-performance industries. Desired Specialized Skills And Knowledge Experience leading prototype or low-rate production builds. Background in gear manufacturing, assembly, and inspection. Knowledge of government and defense product compliance requirements. Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality systems. Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Sage, SAP, Epicor, etc.). Experience with PLM systems (Windchill) Exper