Design Engineer

Company Summary

We are a large, privately owned business, operating as a multi-billion-dollar leader in our industry. We maintain an entrepreneurial spirit at each location despite our large scale, with multiple plants across the U.S. and a history of strategic acquisitions. The location for this position features a small, close-knit team that collaborates daily in a highly supportive, hands-on environment characterized by extreme ownership, mutual support, and the autonomy to drive process improvements. This location is experiencing significant growth, including a track record of doubling sales year-over-year in recent periods.

Job Summary

The Design Engineer is responsible for leading or participating in the design and development of our highly customized, structural solutions. This role translates customer needs and market trends into creative, commercially viable solutions using SolidWorks. The position involves complex engineering calculations, material selection, prototyping, testing, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure designs are functional, safe, manufacturable, and delivered on time within a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities Essential Job Functions:

• Lead or participate in the design and development of new products and processes from concept through production, meeting deadlines and internal standards.
• Translate customer requirements and market trends into innovative, commercially viable design solutions.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings, 3D models, and technical documentation using SolidWorks; release approved files to vendors for prototyping and production.
• Perform complex engineering calculations and analyses to ensure functionality, safety, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Select appropriate materials, components, and manufacturing processes based on cost, performance, quality, and sustainability considerations.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring timely completion of engineering tasks and adherence to milestones.
• Participate in prototyping activities and perform testing to validate concepts; review results with supervisor before production approval.
• Analyze test data and collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine and iterate designs.
• Work closely with manufacturing engineers, marketing, sales, and other departments to ensure design feasibility, customer satisfaction, and manufacturability within budget and schedule.
• Communicate complex engineering concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Create detailed in-plant and in-store instruction sheets and instructional videos as needed.
• Document and communicate project issues promptly and collaborate with the Project Manager for rapid resolution.
• Proficiently use workshop tools during development and prototyping.

Requirements Education & Experience:

• BA in Engineering or related field.
• Minimum three years of relevant experience
• Strong experience with SolidWorks.
• Design engineering background in a relevant or adjacent industry.
• Comfortable working with materials such as metal, plastics, and wood.
• Hands-on shop/prototyping experience and ability to use basic shop tools
• Ability to assemble prototypes and support physical build/test work.

Skills & Competencies:

• Must be able to thrive in a fast-paced setting with shifting priorities and multiple projects
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to coordinate with sales, project management, estimating, and engineering teams.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask under pressure.

Preferred

• Experience with sheet metal, wood, injection molded, and vacuum formed parts design.
• Experience with Adobe design suite.
• Understanding of material selection and cost tradeoffs.
• Interest in or openness to learning 3D printing for sample/prototype work.
• Open-minded, patient, self-managing, and willing to learn additional tasks such as instruction sheets and assembly videos.

Compensation/Benefits

• Salary $85,000 - $100,000
• Profit sharing available.
• 401(k) as part of standard benefits.