At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development from concept to production, ensuring quality and efficiency.
- Company: Join Craster, a design-led company transforming hospitality with innovative products.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, work in a dynamic environment, and enjoy career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and suppliers to drive innovation and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping products that enhance guest experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development, strong CAD skills, and a passion for problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
At Craster, we enable premium hospitality brands to deliver exceptional guest experiences through intelligent, design-led products. We create front-of-house systems that improve operational efficiency, elevate presentation, and drive commercial performance.
This role owns the technical delivery of products from concept through to production. You’ll take design intent and turn it into robust, manufacturable products — working across suppliers, materials, and processes to ensure what we design can be delivered at scale, to cost, and to a high standard. This role requires strong ownership, clear decision-making, and the ability to move projects forward with pace and clarity.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Development
- Own technical delivery from concept through to production readiness
- Translate design intent into manufacturable, scalable solutions
- Drive projects to agreed timelines, cost targets, and quality standards
- Take accountability for technical outcomes and delivery
- Engineering & Technical Delivery
- Produce and manage 3D CAD models, assemblies, and technical documentation
- Define materials, tolerances, finishes, and assembly requirements
- Improve manufacturability, durability, and serviceability
- Lead prototyping, testing, validation, and refinement cycles
- Solve technical challenges and escalate where needed
- Lead technical engagement with suppliers to refine design, cost, and quality
- Drive resolution of technical issues with clear outcomes and timelines
- Support supplier sourcing and development
- Ensure alignment between design intent and production output
- Commercial & Cost
- Contribute to target cost and margin delivery
- Support pricing discussions with technical input
- Identify cost-down and value engineering opportunities
- Make decisions with clear commercial awareness
- Project Delivery
- Own project plans, timelines, and technical trackers
- Maintain clear visibility of risks, dependencies, and progress
- Drive projects through stage gates with defined outputs and sign-off
- Coordinate across design, product, sourcing, and commercial teams
- Quality & Production Readiness
- Maintain accurate technical data, drawings, and BOMs
- Define and deliver production readiness standards
- Support quality control, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
- Ensure products are robust and ready for scaled manufacture
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience delivering products from concept to production
- Strong understanding of materials and manufacturing processes
- Experience working directly with suppliers to resolve technical challenges
- Strong CAD capability (SolidWorks essential)
- Experience with tooling and manufacturing processes (e.g. injection moulding, metal fabrication, casting)
- Experience working with products involving electrical or thermal elements is beneficial
- Strong problem-solving ability and technical judgement
- High level of ownership and accountability
- Ability to work at pace and make decisions under ambiguity
- Structured and detail-oriented, with strong organisational skills
- Confident communicator across internal teams and external suppliers
What Success Looks Like
- Products delivered on time and to target cost and quality
- Strong alignment between design and production output
- Efficient development cycles with minimal rework
- Improvements in manufacturability and cost efficiency
- High-quality technical documentation and clear project delivery
Our Values
- We are curious
- We do the right thing
- We are open to challenge
Why Join Craster: You’ll be part of a design‑led business where product development sits at the core of what we do. This role offers real ownership, exposure to end‑to‑end product delivery, and the opportunity to shape how products are developed and brought to market.
Product Development Engineer employer: CRASTER
CRASTER is an exceptional employer located in Greater London, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, including training in advanced business systems like Acumatica and Power BI, ensuring they are well-equipped for their roles. With a focus on design-led innovation, Craster provides a meaningful and rewarding environment for those looking to make an impact in the merchandising field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development Engineer
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like CRASTER!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at CRASTER would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at CRASTER through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Development Engineer, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Development Engineer position at CRASTER. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at CRASTER
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
