Product Development Engineer Job

Primary location:Chicago,Illinois
Relocation offered:No
Employment status:Full-Time
Travel:<10%
Non-compete:No

The estimated base salary range for this role is "$90,000 to $110,000" per year.
Individual pay is based upon location, skills and expertise, experience and other relevant factors

What does it mean to work at Turf Design, a subsidiary of Armstrong World Industries?

It means being immersed in a supportive culture that recognizes you as a key player in Armstrong's future. We are a large company with a local feel, where you will get to know and collaborate with leadership and your colleagues across the company.

By joining us, you'll have the opportunity to make the most of your potential. Alongside a competitive remuneration package, you will receive:

A benefits package including: medical, dental, prescription drug, life insurance, 401k match, long-term disability coverage, vacation and sick time, product discount programs and many more.
Personal development to grow your career with us based on your strengths and interests.
A casual work environment where we have a recognition program for our team, and service awards. You will also be able to make the most of our fitness center and lunchtime cafe.
A working culture that balances individual achievement with teamwork and collaboration. We draw on each other's strengths and allow for different work styles to build engagement and satisfaction to deliver results.

At Turf, our Product Development Engineer drives the technical execution of Product Development initiatives, advancing innovation through cross-functional collaboration and customer-focused design. You'll design innovative acoustic ceiling and wall systems, delivering CAD models, drawings, prototypes, and documentation that bring concepts to life. This role is highly cross-functional-managing timelines and budgets, collaborating with Marketing to align vision with feasibility, and providing hands-on engineering support for prototypes, trade shows, and customer engagements. With a balance of precision and creativity, you'll shape products that set the standard in both performance and design.

What's in it for you?

• Partner with diverse teams across design, engineering, and marketing.
• Contribute to customer-driven innovation that responds to real-world needs.
• Thrive in a supportive culture that values both precision and creativity.

What does a Product Development Engineer do?

• Independently leads NPD projects through the company's Stage Gate process, ensuring timely execution and alignment with business goals.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to develop innovative concepts based on customer insights and manufacturability.
• Conducts customer research, ideation, and advanced prototyping to inform design decisions.
• Designs and develops acoustic ceiling and wall systems, including line extensions and enhancements.
• Creates detailed technical and installation drawings for commercialization and digital content.
• Writes code to support specification automation and digital fabrication workflows.
• Manages project timelines, budgets, and risk registers.
• Authors and executes test plans; perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions (CAPA).
• Ensures manufacturability, assembly efficiency, and material/tolerance control.
• Provides engineering support throughout pre- and post-launch phases.
• Authors and maintains engineering documentation, standards, and SOPs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in industrial design, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering technology or a related field required. Master's degree is a plus but not required.
• 3-5 years of experience in product development, design engineering, or fabrication.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects and collaborating across functions.
• Proficiency in Rhino 3D or Inventor, with hands-on experience in prototyping and digital fabrication.

What will make you successful?

• Experience interpreting construction documents and developing shop drawings.
• Comfortable with high-tolerance CAD/CAM production and CNC programming.
• Ability to translate construction documents into design and fabrication-ready outputs.
• Experience with Adobe CC (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator).
• Working knowledge of BIM and Revit; ability to develop Revit families is a plus.
• Solid understanding of digital fabrication and specification automation.
• Familiarity with ceiling installation processes, tools, and finishes.
• Strong grasp of materials science and manufacturing constraints.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects independently.
• Experience with test planning, data analysis, and design verification.
• Proficient in engineering documentation, BOM structures, and tolerance stacks.
• Strong collaboration and technical communication skills.
• Portfolio demonstrating innovative solutions and diverse project experience.

What will make you stand out?

• Autodesk Certified Expert or equivalent advanced certification.
• Rhino Advanced User Certification.
• LEED AP (Accredited Professional).
• PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent project management certification.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification.
• Revit experience

Why should you join Turf Design, a subsidiary of Armstrong World Industries?

Armstrong World Industries (AWI) is a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative commercial and residential ceiling, wall and suspension system solutions in the Americas. With approximately $1B in revenue, AWI has about 2,800 employees and a manufacturing network of fifteen facilities in North America.

At home, at work, in healthcare facilities, classrooms, stores, or restaurants, we offer interior solutions that help to enhance comfort, save time, improve building efficiency and overall performance, and create beautiful spaces.

For more than 150 years, we have built our business on trust and integrity. It set us apart then, and it sets us apart now, along with our ability to collaborate with and innovate for the people we're here to serve - our customers, our shareholders, our communities and our employees.

We are committed to developing new and sustainable ceiling solutions, with design and performance possibilities that make a positive difference in spaces where we live, work, learn, heal and play. It's an exciting, rewarding business to be in, and we're committed to continue to grow and prosper for the benefit of all of our stakeholders. We hope you join us.

Our Sustainability Ambition

"Bringing our Purpose to Life" - lead a transformation in the design and building of spaces fit for today and tomorrow.
We are committed to:

• Engaging a diverse, purpose-driven workforce;
• Transforming buildings from structures that shelter into structures that serve and preserve the health and well-being of people and planet;
• Pursuing sustainable, innovative solutions for spaces where we live, work, learn heal and play;
• Being a catalyst for change with all of our stakeholders; and
• Making a positive difference in the environments and communities we impact.

Armstrong is committed to engaging a diverse, purpose-driven workforce. As part of our dedication to diversity, AWI is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard for race, sex, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at by email at AWI talent acquisitionand let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Come and build your future with us and apply today!