The Project Design Engineer leads the detailed definition and realization of products following concept development, ensuring designs are fully defined, manufacturable, and production ready. This role applies DFx principles while maintaining alignment of product data across CAD, ERP, PIM, and web platforms. The position executes engineering workstreams including engineering change (ECR/ECO), customer-driven configurations, VAVE initiatives, and NPI scale-up, serving as the bridge between product concept, manufacturing execution, and lifecycle sustainment.

Essential Functions:

• Lead detailed product design from concept handoff through production release using SolidWorks, including models, assemblies, drawings, configurations, and design tables.
• Apply DFx principles to deliver manufacturable, cost-effective, and production-ready designs, including tolerance analysis, material selection, and performance trade-offs.
• Define and maintain complete product definition, including drawings, BOMs (eBOM/mBOM), and documentation required for manufacturing, assembly, inspection, and release.
• Execute engineering changes (ECR/ECO) and implement product updates driven by quality, cost, supplier changes, obsolescence, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Release customer-driven configurations and product variants, including configurator-based outputs, ensuring accurate and complete product definition.
• Partner with Product Management to maintain configuration rules and ensure alignment between design intent, commercial offerings, and product structure.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to implement changes, including updates to BOMs, manufacturing work instructions, and quality requirements.
• Ensure accuracy, control, and alignment of product data across CAD/PDM, ERP, PIM, web platforms, and customer-facing materials (drawings, BOMs, manuals, datasheets, metadata).
• Support NPI scale-up and sustaining production by resolving design, fit, and manufacturing issues and ensuring consistent product performance in production environments.
• Identify and drive VAVE and continuous improvement initiatives, delivering measurable improvements in cost, quality, and manufacturability, and ensuring full implementation across systems and processes.

Critical Success Factors:

• Robust Product Definition & Release Execution - Designs are fully defined, manufacturable, and production-ready at release, with minimal rework and strong alignment between design intent and manufacturing output.
• Configuration & Data Integrity - Product definition is accurate and aligned across CAD, ERP, PIM, and web platforms, ensuring a reliable digital thread and preventing downstream disruption.

Education & Experience Required:   

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline; equivalent experience commensurate with a degree will be considered. 

• 3-5+ years of experience in mechanical design, electromechanical product design, product realization, sustaining engineering, or engineering change management within a manufacturing environment. Knowledge of sensor technologies, fluid handling systems, or industrial products a plus.

• Proven experience releasing production-ready designs from concept handoff through manufacturing. Experience with DFx, VAVE, Lean, or continuous improvement methodologies preferred.

• Strong SolidWorks experience (assemblies, drawings, configurations, design tables); Certified SolidWorks Professional CSWP is highly desirable. 

• Experience supporting configurator-driven or multi-variant product structures - working with BOM structures, engineering changes (ECR/ECO), and product configuration/variant management. 

• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes such as machining, injection molding, casting, and assembly. 

• Experience interacting with ERP systems (e.g., JD Edwards) and understanding the relationship between engineering data and downstream manufacturing processes. Exposure to CAD/PDM/ERP/PIM integrated environment desirable.

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