Product Design Engineer

Position Overview

A leading manufacturer specializing in high-quality retail shelving and store fixtures, focused on precision metal fabrication, innovation, and dependable production to support major retail environments.

The Product Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing high-quality components and assemblies for retail shelving and fixture systems. This role bridges product concept and production, ensuring designs meet performance, cost, and manufacturability targets while maintaining brand standards and customer specifications.A Product Design Engineer develops product designs from RFQ information based on input from Sales, the customer, Product Management and manufacturing.  Also maintains current product designs for material utilization and manufacturing efficiency through the change order process.  Applies engineering and design principles to insure product integrity, functionality, value and strength.  Utilize engineering tools including destructive testing, hand calculations and FEA to validate structural integrity of designs.

Design & Development

• Consult with Sales, Business Insights, and Industrial Design to define design parameters and translate customer concepts into manufacturable products.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, renderings, and engineering drawings for metal, wood, and plastic fixture components (e.g., shelving, brackets, uprights, displays, supports).
• Apply knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, tolerance stack-ups, and structural integrity to ensure functional, durable, and cost-effective designs.
• Test, analyze, and document the functional parameters of new products to confirm performance and compliance with specifications.

Manufacturing Integration

• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Tooling, Operations, and Quality teams to ensure designs are optimized for fabrication methods (sheet metal, extrusion, welding, coating, etc.).
• Develop designs with attention to production efficiency and cost drivers, providing value-oriented solutions that meet customer requirements at the lowest practical cost.
• Participate in prototype builds, customer samples, and first article approvals, implementing design changes based on feedback or value engineering opportunities.

Documentation & Standards

• Create and maintain all engineering documentation including BOMs, revision histories, drawings, and design standards.
• Ensure designs comply with internal and customer safety, quality, and aesthetic standards.
• Assist Quality Assurance in verifying that products meet intended specifications, tolerances, and visual requirements.
• Support Packaging Engineering in developing appropriate packaging methods for new and existing products.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Project Engineering, Sales, and Manufacturing teams to balance technical, visual, and commercial objectives.
• Provide technical input during customer presentations and product launches.

Continuous Improvement

• Participate in design reviews and apply best practices for Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Evaluate existing designs and propose value engineering initiatives to improve cost, modularity, sustainability, and performance.
• Contribute to ongoing efforts in process optimization and product standardization.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 1–3 years of experience in product or component design within a manufacturing environment — experience with retail fixtures, furniture, or consumer products preferred.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in 3D CAD software, preferably SolidWorks (Autodesk Inventor or Creo also acceptable).
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes such as sheet metal fabrication, extrusion, welding, powder coating, and assembly.
• Solid understanding of GD&T, material selection, and tolerance analysis.
• Experience with ERP or PLM systems for BOM management, documentation, and revision control.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and general computer literacy.
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects simultaneously under time-sensitive conditions.

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working with cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, and sales.
• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving and organizational abilities.

Preferred Skills

• Experience designing modular or configurable product lines.
• Familiarity with retail store fixture and display standards (e.g., gondolas, end caps, kiosks).
• Basic FEA or structural analysis capability.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, DFM/DFA, or value engineering principles.

EDUCATION

BS Mechanical or similar Engineering, BS Industrial Design, or equivalent experience required.