Impact Recovery is looking for an experienced Product Development Engineer to join our engineering team in San Antonio. This is a hands-on role for someone who is comfortable working independently, from concept through commercialization, on traffic safety and commercial products built from advanced polymers and metals. You’ll own projects end-to-end: researching and specifying raw materials, building and testing prototypes, and working closely with manufacturing to bring designs into production.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and test new products and product improvements for our traffic safety and commercial product lines, from concept through production launch.
- Evaluate, select, and specify advanced polymer and metal raw materials based on mechanical, environmental, and cost requirements.
- Build and test prototypes and functional samples; run and analyze physical testing to validate designs against performance and durability requirements.
- Work hands-on in the lab and on the shop floor — building fixtures, running trials, and troubleshooting issues directly rather than delegating them.
- Create and maintain drawings, specifications, and bills of material using CAD and PDM/PLM tools.
- Partner with manufacturing, quality, and sourcing teams to resolve material and process issues and to support successful scale-up to production.
- Manage multiple development projects simultaneously with minimal oversight, setting priorities and driving them to completion.
- Investigate field and quality issues related to material performance and recommend corrective actions.
- Stay current on new polymer materials, additives, and processing methods relevant to injection molding, rotational molding, and/or extrusion.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, or a related field.
- 7–12 years of hands-on product development experience, ideally with products combining plastic/polymer and metal components.
- Strong working knowledge of advanced polymer materials (e.g., HDPE, LDPE, PP, TPU, rubber compounds) and metals (e.g., steel, aluminum) and how material selection affects part performance, moldability, and cost.
- Demonstrated ability to specify raw materials and work directly with suppliers on material selection and qualification.
- Practical, hands-on approach — comfortable in a lab or plant environment, building and testing prototypes yourself.
- Proven ability to work independently and drive projects forward without close supervision.
- Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks preferred) and familiarity with FEA or other simulation tools.
- Experience with injection molding, rotational molding, extrusion, or related manufacturing processes.
- Strong problem-solving skills and solid understanding of DFM/DFA principles.
- Experience in traffic safety, outdoor/UV-exposed products, or commercial products is a plus.
We Offer
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid holidays and vacation.
Why Impact Recovery
Impact Recovery has been designing and manufacturing traffic safety and protective guarding products since 1991. We offer a collaborative, hands-on engineering environment, competitive compensation, and the chance to see your work protect people and property in the real world.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and a brief note about your relevant polymer/product development experience to marketing@impactrecovery.com.