Prototype Engineer - Veev

Veev is leading the way in the transformation of the construction industry with an innovative approach to modular home construction.  Veev's prefabricated closed panel systems allow homes to be assembled efficiently on site while delivering both a more sustainable and higher quality final product than traditional construction.  As a new subsidiary of Lennar, Veev is leveraging the strength and scale of its parent company while maintaining the speed and disruptive approach from its roots as a Silicon Valley based startup.  Veev has developed a vertically integrated approach that involves multi-disciplinary collaboration across real estate, design, development, engineering, manufacturing, and construction.

The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and multidisciplinary Prototype Engineer to join our product development team. This role is crucial in the early stages of evaluation and design, where you will work closely with the Product, design and engineering teams to perform feasibility studies and create prototypes that quantify specific product requirements and performance metrics. The ideal candidate will be hands-on, agile, and innovative, with the ability to ideate, develop, and assess new concepts. Your work will contribute directly to enhancing user experience and ensuring technical performance standards for our high-volume home production.

Responsibilities

1. Prototype Development:

• Develop both functional and aesthetic prototypes to support product requirement validation, feasibility studies, and performance assessments.
• Create prototypes for user acceptance testing to enhance the look, feel, and overall user experience of our homes.
• Develop technical prototypes to demonstrate specific product performance metrics such as cost, weight, energy consumption, and other criteria.

2. Collaboration and Communication:

• Work closely with the Product Manager to understand product requirements and perform feasibility studies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, factory, and New Product Introduction (NPI) teams to ensure designs meet Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) requirements.
• Effectively articulate problem statements and proposed solutions, ensuring alignment with product goals and strategies.

3. Documentation and Handover:

• Produce clean, organized documentation for all prototypes developed, including project plan, Bill of Materials (BOM), cost analysis, detailed drawings, test plans, work instructions, and assembly schemes.
• Ensure that all prototype development is well-documented to facilitate seamless handover to the engineering team for further product development.

4. Problem Solving and Analysis:

• Utilize strong analytical skills to identify key performance metrics, evaluate prototype success, and iterate designs as necessary.
• Develop and maintain test plans to validate prototype performance against specified product requirements.

5. Innovation and Ideation:

• Participate in ideation sessions to brainstorm new product concepts, design improvements, and innovative solutions.
• Leverage a multidisciplinary skill set to contribute to the development and assessment of new ideas.

6. Cost and Performance Analysis:

• Conduct thorough cost analysis for prototypes, ensuring alignment with budget constraints and performance targets.
• Optimize prototypes for cost-efficiency while maintaining or enhancing quality and functionality.

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Industrial Design, or a related field.

• Proven experience in prototype development  - Hands-on experience in developing both functional and aesthetic prototypes.
• Experience in articulating problem statements and developing solutions.
• Strong background in BOM creation, cost analysis, test planning, and technical documentation.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate product requirements into effective prototype designs.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and present solutions clearly and effectively.
• Proficiency in CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) and experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to produce clean and comprehensive documentation.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments to meet product requirements and deadlines.
• Experience in the field of construction materials design, testing, installation is a plus.

Compensation

Pursuant to state and local pay disclosure requirements, the pay range for this role, with final offer amount dependent on skills, education, experience, and location is $130,000 - $150,000 annually for Hayward, CA and surrounding areas. 

Benefits Highlights

• Paid vacations, sick, and holidays
• Life insurance
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance
• 401k + Matching
• Subsidized EV Charging
• Long Term Disability

We are committed to bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and be their authentic self, feel a sense of community, and do great work together. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer open to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, Veteran status, or any other legally protected status.