Design Engineer

About the role

Position Summary: The Design Engineer is responsible for the end-to-end mechanical design and development of vehicle-related products, components, and assemblies from concept through production support. This position combines advanced SolidWorks modeling, engineering analysis, technical documentation, prototype evaluation, and hands-on installation work. The successful candidate will collaborate with Engineering, Validation, Quality, Purchasing, Production, suppliers, and other stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, cost-effective, and manufacturable solutions that satisfy customer requirements, internal standards, and project schedules.

Work Environment – Office: Work is primarily performed in a professional office and engineering environment using standard computer, communication, CAD, measurement, and documentation equipment. The role periodically requires work in prototype, manufacturing, production, supplier, or vehicle-installation areas where noise, moving equipment, tools, and other industrial conditions may be present. Employees must follow all applicable safety procedures and use required personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering designated work areas.

Responsibilities

• Create and develop 3D models of components and assemblies in SolidWorks, translating product requirements into robust mechanical designs that address function, structural performance, manufacturability, serviceability, and ease of assembly.
• Prepare complete component and assembly drawings, including dimensions, tolerances, materials, finishes, notes, and revision information, for release to suppliers and internal manufacturing teams.
• Develop and maintain accurate bills of materials (BOMs), part lists, and associated engineering documentation throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support prototype and production builds through hands-on assembly, fit checks, troubleshooting, design adjustments, and clear communication of findings to project stakeholders.
• Remove vehicle trim and install products as needed to evaluate packaging, fit, function, accessibility, and installation requirements while following established safety and workmanship standards.
• Operate a portable 3D scanning arm within vehicle interiors to capture accurate dimensional data; process and apply scan data to support design development and verification.
• Travel occasionally, approximately three trips per year, primarily to Michigan, to support vehicle measurements, installations, validation activities, supplier coordination, or production needs.
• Provide timely technical support to Engineering, Validation, Purchasing, Quality, Production, and suppliers by clarifying design intent and resolving product or manufacturing issues.
• Perform tolerance stack-ups and structural evaluations to verify that designs meet requirements; apply finite element analysis (FEA) knowledge when appropriate.
• Use data-driven problem-solving and root-cause analysis methods to investigate failures, document conclusions, recommend corrective actions, and confirm effectiveness.
• Support engineering process improvements and company technical initiatives, including document control, design reviews, standardization, and ISO compliance activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
• Five to ten years of progressive design engineering or product-development experience using a solid-modeling CAD platform; demonstrated proficiency with SolidWorks is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance analysis, design for manufacturability (DFM), and design for assembly (DFA).
• Strong mechanical aptitude, sound engineering judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment with limited supervision.
• Practical experience with one or more of the following manufacturing processes, listed in order of preference: Sheet-metal fabrication, forming, and stamping; Machining, milling, and turning; Plastic injection molding and metal die casting; Painting, plating, and other finishing processes for metal and plastic components.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, in a Windows environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly to cross-functional audiences.
• Demonstrated proficiency with common hand tools and the ability to perform careful mechanical assembly and installation work.
• Visual acuity corrected to 20/20, as needed to perform detailed inspection, measurement, installation, and computer-based design work.

Qualifications

• Experience designing products or equipment for automotive, commercial-vehicle, public-safety, fleet, or other highly engineered applications.
• Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM), engineering change notices or orders, configuration control, and formal design-release processes.
• Familiarity with 3D scanning, point-cloud or mesh processing, reverse engineering, and converting measurement data into production-ready CAD geometry.