Farnam Custom Products located in Arden, North Carolina has an immediate opening for a Control Panel Assembler. Farnam, a Division of TUTCO, Inc., manufactures precision heaters and heating components for numerous Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and end users. We are a leading custom electric heat manufacturer.
Overview
Tutco-Farnam Custom Products is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Mechanical Engineer to design, develop, and support custom electric heating solutions for OEM customers across a wide range of industrial, commercial, transportation, aerospace, medical, foodservice, and specialty equipment markets.
The Mechanical Engineer will lead product development activities from concept through production, collaborating directly with customers, sales, operations, quality, and manufacturing teams to develop engineered heating solutions that meet demanding performance, regulatory, cost, and schedule requirements. This role requires strong mechanical design skills, thermal system knowledge, and a customer-focused approach to solving unique application challenges.
Essential Responsibilities
Product Design & Development
- Design custom electric heating products and assemblies tailored to customer application requirements.
- Develop innovative heating solutions utilizing open-coil heaters, conductive and other electric heating technologies.
- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of materials.
- Perform design calculations related to heat transfer, airflow, thermal performance, material selection, and mechanical integrity.
- Lead projects through all stages of development, including concept generation, prototyping, testing, validation, and production launch.
Customer-Focused Engineering
- Collaborate directly with customers to understand application requirements and technical challenges.
- Translate customer needs into manufacturable and cost-effective product designs.
- Support application engineering activities for forced-air heating, process heating, environmental control, and thermal management applications.
- Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, and problem-solving discussions.
Thermal & Mechanical Analysis
- Apply principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid flow, and mechanical design to optimize product performance.
- Conduct thermal performance assessments and engineering calculations.
- Utilize simulation tools, CAD analysis, and testing data to validate designs.
- Evaluate product reliability and durability under varying environmental conditions.
Testing & Validation
- Develop and execute engineering test plans.
- Analyze prototype and production test results to verify performance and compliance.
- Investigate product failures through root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
- Support qualification testing and customer validation activities.
Manufacturing & Operations Support
- Work closely with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are optimized for production.
- Support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) initiatives.
- Lead engineering change requests and product improvement projects.
- Assist in troubleshooting production issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure products comply with customer specifications and applicable industry standards.
- Support UL, CSA, CE, and other regulatory certification activities.
- Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and quality improvement projects.
- Maintain compliance with company engineering and documentation standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
- 3+ years of mechanical engineering experience in product development, manufacturing, HVAC, thermal systems, industrial equipment, or related industries.
- Experience designing custom engineered products preferred.
- Experience with electric heating products or thermal management systems is highly desirable.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software.
- Strong understanding of:
- Heat transfer
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid dynamics
- Mechanical design principles
- Materials and manufacturing processes
- Ability to perform engineering calculations and technical analysis.
- Familiarity with ERP and engineering documentation systems.
- Experience with GD&T and engineering drawing standards.
Preferred Experience
- Electric heating technologies.
- Forced-air heating applications.
- Industrial process heating equipment.
- HVAC systems and airflow management.
- Thermal simulation and CFD analysis.
- Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
Join us if you’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of mechanical engineering innovation! This role is ideal for proactive problem-solvers eager to contribute to impactful projects while advancing their expertise in a fast-paced environment dedicated to excellence in manufacturing and product development.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
