Applications & Product Lifecycle Engineer — Caster and Mobility Components

Be the connector between customer needs and manufacturable designs

Imagine guiding a concept from a customer conversation to a tested, documented product ready for market. As an Applications & Product Lifecycle Engineer at Colson Group in Saint Joseph, MI, you’ll do exactly that—owning the technical release and supporting continuous improvement across the product lifecycle. You will report to the Product Engineering Manager (or designee) and operate at the intersection of Sales, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and the customer.

Our mission

Deliver robust, data-driven product solutions that balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and safety—while communicating clearly and driving accountability across a matrixed organization.

Your impact

• Partner directly with customers to define requirements and transform them into engineering specifications.
• Prepare proposals for customers and leadership: concepts, drawings, engineering analyses, and cost justifications.
• Plan, execute, and release engineering projects; manage scope, schedule, and risk.
• Coordinate and facilitate design, drawing, and analysis reviews; ensure decisions are recorded and actions resolved.
• Continuously monitor program progress; report technical status and risk to Colson Group management.
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with Sales, Operations, Customer Service, Product Management, and Quality to meet expectations.
• Conduct FMEAs and FEAs; drive formal design reviews and documentation control.
• Author and run test plans; analyze results, summarize insights, and implement corrective actions.
• Address supplier and customer inquiries by phone, email, and onsite engagements.
• Provide hands-on build support (assembly, welding, testing) for prototypes and concept trials.
• Create, maintain, implement, and uphold Product Engineering standards.
• Support additional related duties and projects as required.

What you need to succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field (required).
• Training in CAD/FEA/product development (preferred).
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Minimum 2 years using SolidWorks (or comparable CAD) and formal design procedures.
• 2+ years with ergonomics, material handling, caster design, metal fabrication, injection-molded plastics, cast polyurethane, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

Role snapshot

• Location: Saint Joseph, MI
• Reports to: Product Engineering Manager or Designee
• Position Type: Full Time

Legal and safety

Status:

Salary Exempt

*Note

*Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, this in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

• *This position is a safety-sensitive position. The position requires operating or working around heavy equipment, which if performed while under the influence of drugs (including marijuana) or alcohol could result in errors in judgment, inattentiveness or diminished coordination, dexterity or composure that could in turn result in mistakes that would endanger the health and safety of you and others.