At Horizon Hobby, we inspire dreams and help build memories! Our company is the leader in the global Radio Control industry, celebrating 40 years in 2025! We offer tremendous opportunities for growth and development and a full array of benefits including discounts on our products! We are currently hiring for a Mechanical Design Engineer!
This is a full-time, on-site position at our either our Champaign IL or Rancho Cucamonga CA location. Working hours are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
Typical pay for this position is $70,304 - $100,000 annually. The final offer for this position will be based on the unique experience and qualifications of the candidate selected. This position may also be eligible for a bonus not included in the base pay range.
This Mechanical Design Engineer role is specifically for our Spektrum Battery Ecosystem. This role is responsible for executing mechanical design activities for Spektrum batteries, chargers, connectors, and related accessories. This role develops and maintains 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, and product documentation while ensuring consistent design language, fit, function, and manufacturability across the Spektrum power ecosystem.
This individual will work closely with cross-functional teams to convert product requirements into detailed designs, support prototype and production builds, manage engineering changes, and maintain design integrity throughout the product lifecycle. The ideal candidate will place a strong emphasis on CAD excellence, configuration management, design standardization, and continuous improvement across existing and future product lines.
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Design & CAD Development
- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings for battery packs, chargers, connectors, power accessories, and related products.
- Develop production-ready designs that meet performance, cost, manufacturability, and reliability requirements.
- Design plastic, metal, and electromechanical components for injection molding, stamping, machining, and assembly processes.
- Support concept development, prototyping, design reviews, and validation activities throughout the product lifecycle.
- Perform tolerance analysis, fit checks, interference analysis, and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) evaluations.
Product Line Design Consistency
- Establish and maintain consistent design standards, component architectures, and mechanical interfaces across the Spektrum battery ecosystem.
- Ensure compatibility between batteries, chargers, connectors, mounts, and supporting accessories.
- Maintain common design practices, CAD standards, and documentation procedures across multiple product families.
- Drive reuse of proven designs, components, and assemblies where appropriate to improve efficiency and reduce development costs.
Documentation & Data Management
- Create and maintain engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials (BOMs), assembly documentation, and product records.
- Manage CAD data, revisions, and engineering change orders (ECOs) within PDM systems.
- Ensure documentation packages are accurate, complete, and released according to company procedures.
- Support supplier and manufacturing documentation requirements.
Cross-Functional Development Support
- Collaborate with Product Development, Electrical Engineering, Sourcing, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to execute product development plans.
- Support prototype builds, testing activities, and validation efforts.
- Work with suppliers to resolve design, tooling, manufacturing, and quality issues.
- Incorporate test results, supplier feedback, and manufacturing learnings into design improvements.
Product Lifecycle Support
- Maintain and improve existing products through cost reductions, quality improvements, and engineering changes.
- Investigate root causes of product issues and develop corrective design solutions.
- Support transition of products from concept through production and ongoing lifecycle management.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or related engineering discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in mechanical product design and development.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks including part modeling, assemblies, surfacing, sheet metal, drawings, and design tables.
- Experience with Product Data Management (PDM) systems, revision control, and engineering change processes.
- Experience creating detailed engineering drawings compliant with GD&T and industry drafting standards.
- Knowledge of tolerance stack-up analysis and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) principles.
- Ability to develop and maintain bills of materials, product specifications, and engineering documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing battery packs, chargers, power systems, connectors, or consumer electronics products.
- Experience with lithium battery packaging, enclosure design, thermal considerations, and mechanical integration.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes including injection molding, machining, stamping, die casting, and assembly methods.
- Familiarity with electrical components and electromechanical product development.
- Experience working directly with domestic and overseas manufacturing partners.
- Knowledge of UL, CE, RoHS, UN38.3, and battery-related compliance requirements.
- Experience supporting products through manufacturing, launch and sustaining engineering activities.
Key Competencies
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience in the radio-control hobby industry, consumer electronics, power tools, robotics, or outdoor power equipment industries.
- Clear communication of technical ideas
- Attention to detail in both hardware and software
- Enthusiasm for RC models and/or hobby electronics
- Collaborative, hands‑on approach to engineering
Physical Requirements
- Occasional lifting of office supplies and materials, up to 20 pounds.
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working on a computer.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Benefits & Other Perks
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- HSA and FSA options
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance and Supplemental Life Insurance
- 401(k) with a company match
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Internal Rewards
- Discounts on Products
- Additional Coverage such as accident, critical, hospital and pet insurance
Horizon Hobby is a progressive, innovative company and, as such, is constantly reevaluating and reinventing the processes and procedures associated with each job. The essential duties and responsibilities of this position may change at any time. In addition, employees may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work necessary or important to the operation of Horizon. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected and appreciated.
Horizon Hobby, LLC is an equal opportunity and E-Verify employer
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
