Mechanical Engineer- NPD

We currently have an opening for a Mechanical Engineer- New Product Development in our Mason, Ohio location. Clopay Corporation, an industry leader and premier manufacturer, has a pivotal opening for an innovative, high-energy Mechanical Engineer II to join our New Product Development (NPD) team in Mason, Ohio. Are you an experienced engineer feeling restricted by corporate bureaucracy or a lack of creative outlets at your current position? Do you crave an environment where you can get hands-on in the R&D shop, prototype your own ideas, and see your concepts transition from a computer screen to a physical, working product? This isn't a passive desk job where you get boxed in by rigid boundaries. We are looking for a unique, hybrid engineer who is a true "doer"-someone who is a wizard on the computer with 3D parametric modeling, but who is equally excited to jump into the R&D shop, grab some tools, and lead physical prototyping, testing, and validation efforts. At Clopay, you will be at the center of the action, supporting the design, build, and launch of our next generation of products. Responsibilities: Design, Prototype & Support Innovation • From Napkin Sketch to Reality: Drive the conceptualization and design of cutting-edge sectional, rolling, and coiling overhead door systems, turning great ideas into manufacturable parts. • Collaborate and Support: Assist and support Project Managers and Senior NPD Engineers to ensure key deliverables, milestones, and testing procedures are successfully executed. You will serve as the technical engine that helps move projects from initial design to market launch. • Become the Customer's Advocate: Go beyond the blueprints. Build deep, firsthand expertise on our customers, their day-to-day challenges, and the competitive market landscape to translate insights into robust, functional engineering requirements. • Communicate with Impact: Present and explain your designs and ideas clearly to stakeholders at all levels, from our skilled shop floor associates to the engineering leadership team. Be a Hands-On Builder & Problem Solver • The Prototyping Playground: Move your designs off the screen. Work side-by-side with R&D technicians on the shop floor to physically build, assemble, and test engineering prototypes. • Design Custom Test Setups: Don't just trust software simulation. Create custom test fixtures and automated test protocols to validate your designs against real-world stresses and rigorous structural/life safety codes (ASCE, IBC, UL, etc.). • Root-Cause Troubleshooting: When a component fails or shows wear during high-cycle testing, get hands-on in the shop to diagnose the physical failure, find the root cause, and rapidly prototype a design solution. Master the Engineering Ecosystem • 3D Parametric Design: Utilize Autodesk Inventor to create detailed part and assembly drawings, building high-quality parametric standards. • Develop Core Standards: Go beyond single-use designs by creating robust engineering calculations and configurations for variable product lines, implementing them directly into our systems. • Execute Change Management: Assist with product launches via the engineering change order (ECO) process and write the crystal-clear installation instructions our field technicians rely on. Required Qualifications: • Engineering & Design Acumen: A 4-year Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) plus at least 5 years of professional product design or development experience. • 3D Modeling Virtuosity: Fluent in 3D CAD modeling (Autodesk Inventor preferred) and parametric design, with a strong understanding of how fabrication methods impact design viability. • Innate Mechanical Intuition (The Tinker's Edge): You have a natural physical feel for how machinery, linkages, and materials behave. We highly value candidates with hands-on hobbies that build this practical intuition-whether you spend your weekends restoring classic cars, rebuilding engines, woodworking, custom machining, welding, or building complex projects in your home shop. • Hands-On Prototyping Drive: A genuine desire to spend time in the shop building and testing. You are highly comfortable using hand tools and power tools, and excited to collaborate on the shop floor with technicians. • Structured Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with a methodical, structured approach to root-cause failure analysis. • Inspirational Collaborator: Excellent communication skills, with a talent for working seamlessly within cross-functional teams and explaining complex 3D mechanical systems clearly to technical and non-technical colleagues alike.