Design Engineer

Contract position based in Pella, IA.

About the role

Drive continuous improvement of utility equipment across the entire product lifecycle. Develop and implement design enhancements that improve performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to support customer satisfaction through product improvements and effective issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for utility equipment throughout the product lifecycle, focusing on performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost.
• Develop and implement design enhancements that optimize product functionality and manufacturability.
• Create and refine mechanical designs, including sheet metal components and assemblies, using SolidWorks and other CAD tools.
• Support new product development activities from concept through prototype and production release.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams to ensure designs meet operational and customer requirements.
• Participate in prototype build activities and provide engineering support during testing and validation.
• Use finite element analysis (FEA) and other engineering tools to evaluate and improve design robustness.
• Contribute to resolving product issues in the field and implement design changes that enhance customer satisfaction.
• Document design changes and maintain accurate engineering records and models.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and mentorship opportunities to expand engineering skills and explore related disciplines.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Agricultural Engineering.
• At least 1 year of experience using SolidWorks, which may include internships or academic projects.
• Proficiency in mechanical design, including component and assembly design.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication considerations.
• Ability to support new product development and prototype activities.
• Basic knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) for evaluating design performance.
• Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams.
• Ability to analyze and resolve product issues and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.

Skills

• Experience with Creo or Pro/ENGINEER is beneficial.
• Background in mechanical engineering design for utility or industrial equipment is an advantage.
• Interest in expanding into electrical, embedded, or systems engineering roles over time.
• Willingness to participate in advanced engineering training and mentorship programs.
• Motivation to work on a team that is behind schedule and contribute to catching up through strong engineering performance.
• Enthusiasm for personal and professional development opportunities, including internal learning platforms and online training resources.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, on-site role in a cubicle-based office and manufacturing floor environment. The schedule runs Monday through Friday with a 6:30 AM start time and a 40-hour workweek. Approximately 70% of the time is spent working in SolidWorks at a workstation, and about 30% is spent on the production floor supporting prototypes and collaborating with operations.

The dress code follows a 'dress for your day' approach, with jeans worn the majority of the time and a polo-style shirt or similar professional casual top. The culture emphasizes a family-like environment within a large organization, offering advanced engineering training, mentorship programs, and access to internal development resources and online learning platforms. Employees have opportunities to get involved in social and recreational activities, such as company sports leagues.

Benefits

• 11 paid holidays and two weeks of vacation.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available.
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents).
• Short and long-term disability.
• Health Spending Account (HSA).
• Transportation benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $31.25 - $33.65/hr. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.