The posting
Job Title: Systems Engineer Department: R&D Reports To: Director, Global Design FLSA Status: Exempt Location: Nashville, TN (hybrid)
SVP Worldwide is the world’s largest consumer sewing machine company, proudly home to the iconic brands SINGER®, HUSQVARNA® VIKING®, PFAFF®, and CREATIVATE™. Together, our brands represent nearly 500 years of combined leadership, empowering sewists around the world, and shaping the evolution of sewing for generations.
Our purpose is clear: to create, elevate, and celebrate sewists around the world.
With global operations spanning R&D, manufacturing, distribution, and sales, SVP Worldwide brings together heritage craftsmanship and modern innovation to serve a worldwide community of makers.
Our expanding portfolio includes sewing and embroidery machines, accessories and notions, garment care, and creative software — offering meaningful opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and make an impact.
Guided by our values — customer-first thinking, curiosity and creativity, inclusion, and transparency — we’re building a connected, inclusive culture where people can grow their careers while helping define the future of sewing.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Systems Engineer, OEM Products is the technical lead for products manufactured by SVP Worldwide’s OEM partners. Sitting within the R&D organization, this role is the technical point person on OEM project teams across SVP Worldwide’s brands. The role’s focus is OEM products; it may also support supplier-engineered components with electronic or software content on internal development programs.
These products are designed and built by external partners, which makes clear, well-defined requirements and disciplined verification essential to a successful product. This role owns that work end to end: defining what partners must build and, in partnership with the Test & Quality team, ensuring that what they deliver meets SVP Worldwide’s requirements and will delight our end users.
As a key member of project teams developing new OEM products, the Systems Engineer shapes the system and test requirements provided to partners, works with the OEM throughout development to evaluate their design and engineering deliverables, and, together with Test & Quality, recommends whether OEM projects are ready to advance in the product development process.
These OEM project teams are global, with the Systems Engineer based at SVP Worldwide’s Nashville headquarters, typically working across several concurrent OEM programs. In this role, the Systems Engineer shapes how an important part of SVP Worldwide’s portfolio is defined and developed.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Requirements & Specification
- Define and own the system and test requirements that OEM partners build to, translating product intent and underlying end-user needs into clear, buildable specifications. Leverage existing requirements and verification practices and align to the standards used for SVP Worldwide’s internally developed products.
- Define subsystem and interface requirements (mechanical, electronics, firmware) and how the OEM product integrates with the SVP platform.
- Maintain requirement traceability and ensure specifications reflect cost, feasibility, and manufacturability targets, working closely with the Product Manager to understand trade-offs and support data-driven decisions.
- Participate in early evaluation of candidate OEM suppliers and their existing “donor” products, assessing fit and gaps against SVP’s high-level project requirements.
Verification & Acceptance
- Partner with the Test & Quality team on the verification strategy for OEM products, defining and reviewing partner test and validation plans so they demonstrate the product meets requirements and performs as end users expect.
- Review and provide feedback on partner deliverables, including design documentation, engineering data, and test results, and drive any issues to resolution.
- Together with the Test & Quality team, recommend whether OEM deliverables are ready to advance at each development gate.
OEM Technical Interface & Integration
- Be the technical lead for OEM partners on engineering matters across the program, from concept through launch, working with the Program Manager (who owns program execution, schedule, and commercial terms) to build and maintain the schedule for technical workflows.
- Communicate and coordinate effectively with domain experts across the broader R&D organization, engaging their support as needed to bring the right expertise to OEM programs.
- Drive technical issue resolution and root-cause investigations with partners across the program, including during production ramp-up and launch, drawing on internal resources as needed.
- Assess OEM partners’ technical capabilities and support improvements where needed.
- Working with the PMO, recommend and implement improvements to the new product development process for OEM programs.
The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
REQUIREMENTS AND PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical/Electronics, Mechatronics, or Computer Engineering, or a related field
- 5–8 years of new product development experience, preferably with electromechanical consumer and/or commercial products
- Proven experience defining product requirements and evaluating supplier or partner test data, ideally with exposure to formal verification and product qualification processes
- Experience working with overseas suppliers and manufacturing partners
SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE:
- Ability to author clear engineering requirements and specifications for an external manufacturing partner.
- Ability to read, interpret, and provide sound technical feedback on test plans and test data, and to make sound technical acceptance decisions.
- Working knowledge across mechanical, electronics, and embedded/firmware disciplines sufficient to coordinate a multi-disciplinary product.
- Comfortable working with overseas partners and teams across time zones.
- Familiarity with common project and issue-tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Microsoft Project).
- Ability to effectively communicate; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Effective organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to change; demonstrates learning agility.
- Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively within a high performing team.
- Willingness to develop, is self-aware, and open to feedback.
WE OFFER YOU:
- Full benefits package; medical, dental, vision
- 401k plan
- Competitive PTO accrual as well as additional wellness days
- Hybrid work schedule
- Work environment that harbors a culture of collaboration and community
- Learning and development opportunities
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation, including:
- Occasionally move about inside the office to access filing cabinets, meeting rooms, copier/printer, etc. as well as having the ability to remain in a stationary position most of the time.
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
- Repetitive motions such as lifting and turning.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/LOCATION/FLEX ARRANGEMENT:
- SVP Worldwide offers a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. This position will be hybrid – willingness to commute to our office location a minimum of three (3) days a week and work remotely from a home office the other days.
- Works in an office environment and will travel approximately 10–20% for business-related meetings, OEM partner visits, or events.
- The worker is subject to being in front of a computer and on the phone throughout the day.
Why You Will Love Being a Part of the SVP Worldwide Team:
We take care of our team! We offer a competitive benefit package including multiple health plan options comprised of vision and dental plans, 401K plan, life insurance, disability insurance, pet insurance, parental leave, generous employee discounts and paid time off benefits including wellbeing days.
At SVP Worldwide, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion and strive to employ a unique workforce that is reflective of our consumers across the globe. That means understanding, respecting and valuing diversity- unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas and opinions – while being inclusive of all people.
SVP Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit and qualifications. SVP Worldwide prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual identity, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, nationality, citizenship, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, or any other unlawful consideration.
In The News:
In 2021, SVP Worldwide was acquired by Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com), a global investment firm with more than $25 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 50 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity has committed to fully support SVP Worldwide’s continued growth and to bring additional financial and operational resources to help accelerate the company’s efforts.
Like what you see? Then come “sew” and grow your career with us!
Follow us on LinkedIn and get updates from SVP Worldwide!
#LI-HYBRID
7-10 years experience in field and is considered to be a subject matter expert. Knowledge of role typically obtained through advanced education and work experience.
