Designer

About the role

This role focuses on designing standard and customized metal fabrications using SolidWorks in a collaborative, creative environment. You will serve as the team’s SolidWorks subject matter expert and create detailed designs that support a heavy industrial fabrication shop. The position offers a strong work/life balance, competitive benefits for a smaller organization, and the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects that showcase both technical and creative skills.

Responsibilities

• Design standard and customized metal fabrications using SolidWorks, ensuring accuracy and manufacturability.
• Prepare detailed drawings of components and assemblies through SolidWorks, including dimensions, tolerances, and material specifications.
• Act as the team’s subject matter expert in SolidWorks, providing guidance, best practices, and support to colleagues.
• Collaborate closely with the shop team and leadership to review designs and implement modifications as needed.
• Interpret and work from blueprints, engineering drawings, and technical documentation to develop or update designs.
• Design heavy weldments and sheet metal components suitable for a heavy industrial fabrication environment.
• Support projects ranging in duration from short two-day tasks to longer two-month initiatives, adapting to changing priorities.
• Apply mechanical design principles and mathematical skills to solve design challenges and optimize fabrication processes.
• Partner with welding and fabrication personnel to ensure designs align with welding practices, fabrication capabilities, and safety considerations.
• Maintain a high level of detail and accuracy in all design work while incorporating creative solutions to meet customer and production needs.

Essential Skills

• 1–3 years of experience in SolidWorks design, with a focus on mechanical design.
• Experience designing heavy weldments and sheet metal components.
• Proficiency in preparing detailed SolidWorks drawings for fabrication.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and engineering drawings.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and mathematical skills applied to design work.
• Detail-oriented approach with the ability to produce accurate, manufacturable designs.
• Subject matter expertise in SolidWorks or the ability to quickly become the primary SolidWorks expert on the team.
• 2–3 years of experience in heavy industrial sheet metal fabrication.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with shop teams and leadership on design modifications.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Certification such as CSWA (Certified SolidWorks Associate) is a strong plus.
• Experience in welding or experience working closely with welding processes is a significant advantage.
• Experience with sheet metal design in a fabrication environment.
• Associate’s degree related to SolidWorks, mechanical design, or a similar technical discipline is preferred.
• Experience in the wood industry with a desire to transition into metal fabrication will be considered.
• Creative mindset with the ability to balance aesthetics, functionality, and manufacturability.

Work Environment

The role is based in a heavy industrial fabrication shop that focuses on welding and metal fabrication, while the day-to-day work is primarily computer and desk-based using SolidWorks. You will work closely with production and welding teams in a hands-on, practical environment, yet spend most of your time in a design setting. The organization emphasizes work/life balance and does not require weekend work. Additional welding stations have been added to support daytime production and avoid night shifts. The company offers competitive benefits for its size, a stable and well-established customer base, and a workplace culture reflected in long average employee tenure.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $25.00 – $30.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 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
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)