Product Design Engineer

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Innovation, Efficiency and Ambition: this is what VAT has stood for over 50 years.

With this passion, VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide. The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan.

We are looking for a Field Mechanical Design Engineer in facilitating direct customer engagement, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring customer-centricity in all design endeavours. This role requires proactive problem-solving, effective communication, and a deep understanding of user needs and cultural nuances.

Reporting directly to the team leader, you will work closely with key account (KA) customers in China to ensure their requirements are met efficiently, while collaborating with internal teams to deliver tailored solutions and enhance overall customer satisfaction.

This role requires frequent travel to customer sites to ensure successful project execution and to address any design-related challenges in real-time. The ideal candidate will possess strong mechanical design skills, excellent problem-solving abilities, and the flexibility to travel extensively.

Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Good product knowledge including design, machining, assembly, and the surrounding processes.
• Strong problem-solving skills, able to find root causes and implement short- and long-term measures.
• Sense of responsibility and ability to work independently, taking technical ownership of the product, actively driving improvements, and keeping the product up to date.
• Implement regular meetings and establish communication channels to facilitate seamless information flow and alignment across teams.
• Facilitate faster response times and tailored solutions.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer sessions within the team to share insights gained from customer interactions and design iterations.
• Contribute to product change management to ensure products remain up to date.
• Oversee engineering product documentation and coordinate with the engineering change department for effective ECR/ECN implementation on the production floor.
• Provide technical support to new product introduction (NPI) projects until handoff to operations.
• Involved in customer audits and provide technical support for Customer Complaints.
• Support customers together with product management and application engineers.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree or master in mechanical engineering
• Sense of responsibility
• Able to work independently with minimum supervision
• Team player, ability to collaborate professionally in a fast-paced environment
• Good communication skills, with good English proficiency.
• Enjoy working on strategic issues
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong skill in 3D-CAD
• Experience in change management
• Proactive, agile, creative, self-motivated
• Proficiency in English; proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is an added advantage

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of vacuum industry technology
• Experience with CAD software – SIEMENS NX
• Experience in project management (structured working method)
• Experience in design and application of mechatronic components (Motor, sensor, heaters, etc.)
• Experience in production of cast parts, sheet metal parts, and injection-moulding parts.

VAT is an equal opportunity employer. We see ourselves as a responsible and far-sighted employer that offers not only jobs but also career and personal development opportunities through various training programs. We recognize the value of employee diversity and provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified applicants that contribute to innovation, improve customer orientation, and enhance employee satisfaction. One step in this direction is to ensure that people are recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions to the company. In 2021, VAT received the Fair-ON-Pay+ certificate as an acknowledgment of our commitment to ensuring equal pay for equal work between men and women.