Product Design Engineer

About the role

This Product Design Engineer role focuses on designing new wiper systems, control products, and components from concept through production. You will take ownership of product design and development for customers, applying strong mechanical and product development expertise to meet both organizational objectives and customer needs. The position involves close collaboration with internal teams and customers, ensuring that designs meet performance, quality, cost, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design new wiper systems, control products, and related components that meet customer specifications and performance requirements.
• Prepare original and revised design layouts based on customer CAD data, specifications, and feedback.
• Develop and update cost estimates for new or revised designs to support project planning and decision-making.
• Manage design projects from initial concept through production, ensuring designs are delivered on time and within scope.
• Gather data from customer input and off-site visits to debug, modify, or correct prototype, pre-production, start-up, and warranty issues.
• Investigate and implement product improvements based on field performance, customer feedback, and engineering analysis.
• Remain current on customer end-use needs and product applications to ensure designs are practical and aligned with real-world conditions.
• Conceptualize and develop new products that support business growth and customer requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of sound engineering practices, manufacturing processes, and relevant regulations and standards, including FMVSS and SAE or other applicable standards.
• Support and perform major platform engineering analyses, including kinematic, electrical, environmental, and other required assessments.
• Complete design calculations using both manual and computerized methods to validate design integrity and performance.
• Apply knowledge of drafting techniques, engineering procedures, and CAD systems to determine the most effective methods, equipment, and processes for design work.
• Verify designs to ensure they meet design intent, specifications, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical product expertise to internal teams and external stakeholders, supporting cross-functional collaboration and customer communication.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology.
• At least 2 years of design engineering experience, preferably in mechanical or product design.
• Hands-on experience with 3D CAD tools; Creo (Pro/ENGINEER) experience preferred, with willingness to consider other CAD packages.
• Strong mechanical engineering and mechanical design skills, particularly in product design and new product development.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as sheet metal stamping, die casting, injection molding, and assembly.
• Ability to perform engineering analyses, including kinematic, electrical, and environmental evaluations as required.
• Proficiency in performing design calculations using manual and computer-based methods.
• Familiarity with FMVSS regulations and SAE or other applicable engineering standards.
• Ability to interpret and work from customer CAD data and technical specifications.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to verify designs for intent, specifications, and quality.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience supporting full product lifecycle from concept through production launch.
• Background in designing automotive or similar electromechanical systems is beneficial.
• Strong problem-solving skills for debugging and improving prototypes and pre-production products.
• Effective communication skills to provide technical expertise to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to stay current with evolving engineering practices, tools, and industry standards.
• Experience estimating design costs and supporting cost optimization efforts.

Work Environment

This role operates in an engineering and product development environment that relies heavily on CAD tools such as Creo or similar 3D design software. You will work closely with cross-functional teams involved in manufacturing processes, including sheet metal stamping, die casting, injection molding, and assembly operations. The position may involve occasional off-site visits to customer locations or production facilities to gather data, support debugging, and address product issues in the field. Work typically follows standard business hours, with additional effort as needed to meet project deadlines and support production launches. The environment emphasizes adherence to engineering best practices, regulatory standards such as FMVSS, and industry standards like SAE, while fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and high-quality product design.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based in Michigan City, IN, and is fully onsite.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $33.65 - $38.46 per hour. 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.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may include the following:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 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)