Senior Design Engineer (Confidential Search)
Elyria, Ohio | Full-Time | On-Site
Turn Innovative Concepts into World-Class Products
Are you an experienced Design Engineer with exceptional CAD modeling expertise and a passion for transforming ideas into manufacturable products?
Do you enjoy taking concepts from initial sketches through prototyping, design validation, and full-scale production while collaborating closely with engineering, manufacturing, and operations?
Our client, an established and growing U.S. manufacturer, is seeking a Senior Design Engineer to play a critical role in new product development and continuous product improvement. This confidential opportunity is ideal for a highly skilled design professional who thrives in a collaborative engineering environment and enjoys solving complex design challenges.
Why This Opportunity?
This is more than a CAD design role.
You'll become a key member of the Product Development team, working alongside engineers, manufacturing, quality, and operations to develop innovative products from concept through production. Your designs will directly influence manufacturability, product performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.
If you enjoy creating exceptional products while seeing your work move from concept to reality, we'd like to speak with you.
What You'll Do
As a Senior Design Engineer, you'll lead and support product development activities throughout the complete design lifecycle.
Responsibilities include:
- Develop complex 3D CAD models, assemblies, and detailed manufacturing drawings utilizing SolidWorks (preferred) or comparable solid modeling software.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Marketing, and Product Development teams during concept development to generate multiple design solutions for evaluation.
- Transform engineering concepts and industrial design sketches into production-ready designs.
- Create component models for prototype development utilizing multiple prototyping methods.
- Coordinate prototype fabrication, evaluate components, and recommend design improvements.
- Design complex sheet metal, welded, machined, plastic, and fabricated components and assemblies.
- Generate fabrication drawings, weld layouts, 3D weld models, and flat patterns for sheet metal parts.
- Apply GD&T principles and perform tolerance stack-up analysis.
- Design snap-fit features and apply industry hardware standards and manufacturing best practices.
- Develop and maintain accurate Engineering Bills of Materials (BOMs).
- Support Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) initiatives.
- Work closely with suppliers regarding component design, manufacturability, prototype fabrication, and production readiness.
- Resolve design-related manufacturing issues by partnering directly with production teams.
- Initiate and manage Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Notices (ECNs).
- Maintain CAD data integrity while ensuring models and drawings are accurate, complete, and delivered on schedule.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to other designers as needed.
- Continuously expand knowledge of CAD technologies, prototype methods, and manufacturing techniques.
Qualifications
We're seeking a design professional who combines exceptional CAD expertise with extensive product development experience.
Qualifications include:
- Associate's Degree or higher in Drafting, Engineering Technology, Mechanical Design, Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.
- Eight (8)+ years of product design and CAD modeling experience involving complex mechanical components and assemblies.
- Five (5)+ years of advanced SolidWorks experience (preferred) or equivalent 3D solid modeling software.
- Demonstrated ability to develop products from concept through production.
- Strong experience creating detailed manufacturing drawings and production documentation.
- Experience designing sheet metal, weldments, machined components, plastic components, and fabricated assemblies.
- Working knowledge of GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis.
- Basic Finite Element Analysis (FEA) knowledge.
- Strong understanding of materials, including metals and engineered plastics.
- Experience working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or similar systems.
- Experience with Engineering Change (ECR/ECN) processes and manufacturing BOM management.
- Ability to interpret engineering concepts and industrial design sketches while independently developing production-ready CAD models.
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes including machining, welding (robotic and manual), fabrication, injection molding, sheet metal, and prototype development.
- Excellent organizational, project management, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Experience mentoring or coaching other designers is highly desirable.
Why Join This Team?
This opportunity offers the chance to:
- Design innovative products from concept through commercialization.
- Work alongside experienced engineering and manufacturing professionals.
- Utilize advanced CAD technology and modern product development tools.
- Influence product design, manufacturability, and production processes.
- Collaborate directly with suppliers and manufacturing operations.
- Build a long-term career with a respected and growing manufacturer committed to innovation and engineering excellence.
Confidential Search
This confidential search is being conducted exclusively by Strong Tower Partners.
Additional information regarding the organization, products, compensation, team structure, and growth opportunities will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process.
All inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.
Pay: $105,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
