At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60+ retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.

In a time of unprecedented expansion, we’re looking for a Principal Engineer to join our Research, Design & Development team. In this role, you will dedicate most of your time to modernizing Lakeshore’s end-to-end quality program, helping to build new capabilities and processes that ensure expectations are clear and consistently met regardless of vendor or country of production. You will help align our new material and product standards, specifications, testing protocols and vendor capabilities to guarantee the best products for our consumers. In addition, you will work closely with our Operations team in training and implementing every aspect of our quality program to ensure consistent delivery of our products. While this role is an individual contributor position, you also will spend some time mentoring product and quality engineers and troubleshooting product issues as they arise. This role requires strong engineering skills with a focus on implementing quality processes and policies—including the ability to influence and guide various teams.

A day in the office looks like this: 

• Identifying opportunities in our current quality processes and policies
• Modernizing our end-to-end quality program and creating a roadmap to implement—including capabilities, talent and locations of where activities should occur
• Aligning all aspects of our quality program, from initial product concept to product production
• Working closely with our Supply Chain group on capability and talent needs in different counties
• Collaborating with business stakeholders to ensure alignment on strategic direction of quality program
• Analyzing performance and driving continuous improvement opportunities
• Developing KPIs for the quality program to measure progress and reduce risk

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; Master’s in Engineering a plus
• 10+ years of relevant product engineering experience
• 10+ years of implementing quality processes and policies in a consumer products environment
• 10+ years in manufacturing and production fields (injection molding, blow molding, tooling design, furniture and metal fabrication, etc.)
• 10+ years working with a wide variety of raw materials including plastics, metals, wood, textiles and foams
• Effective leadership skills and ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to organize, plan and implement a quality program
• Significant experience with problem-solving and influencing cross-functional managers
• Proven record of building team relationships across multiple locations and disciplines

And here’s our end of the bargain! 

• Competitive compensation based on skills and experience, plus a bonus plan
• Excellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)
• Flexible benefits—choose what you like, ignore the rest
• On-site preschool for our employees’ children
• On-site employee gym for all levels/fitness needs
• Generous employee discount on products that make you smarter
• Casual dress…and we really mean it

At Lakeshore, we know our diversity makes us stronger, and when everyone feels included and valued, we all win. We strive to embrace our differences and create an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that is representative of the teachers, families and children we serve.

We know we couldn’t do the extraordinary things we’re doing without the people on our team. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of this spectacular group, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. Day in and day out, we give everything we’ve got to create products that instill a sense of wonder and foster a true love of learning. To help maintain this high bar for success, we’re constantly on the lookout for people to join us. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you. 
 
To learn more about Lakeshore, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/careers 
 
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
People are selected to become members of the Lakeshore family based on skill, merit and mind-boggling talent—not based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, domestic partnership status, military status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, alienage, AIDS or AIDS-related complex status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If things aren’t equal, we all lose.

To learn about how we collect and use Applicant information, please visit our Employee/Applicant Privacy Policy. INDRLL11