Associate Design Engineer

The Shyft Group • Carson, CA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Design Engineer is responsible for supporting engineering design, drafting, documentation, product improvement, current production portfolio support, design testing, validation fixtures, and engineering release activities. This role assists with creating and updating CAD models, drawings, bills of material, controlled engineering documents, technical presentations, and basic test or validation fixture concepts while working closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, Purchasing, Sales, Management, and Customer Support. The position is intended for an early-career engineer who can apply mechanical engineering fundamentals, learn company design standards, support manufacturability improvements, assist with troubleshooting, and help maintain accurate engineering data within the PDM system. The Associate Design Engineer will also contribute to continuous improvement efforts by helping identify drawing issues, manufacturing inefficiencies, quality concerns, warranty claim trends, documentation gaps, design inconsistencies, and opportunities to standardize parts, assemblies, fixtures, and engineering practices.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering required.
• 1 to 2 years of experience in engineering design, drafting, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical role.
• Proficiency with CAD software, preferably SolidWorks
• Experience using PDM software for file management, revision control, and engineering release workflows.
• Familiarity with microcontrollers and basic control systems, including actuators, proximity sensors, switches, and related electromechanical components.
• Basic understanding of metal manufacturing and inspection methods, including cutting, shearing, bending, welding, fabrication, fit-up, dimensional checks, and related production processes. Hands-on operation is not required, but the engineer must understand how these processes affect design intent, manufacturability, quality, and inspection requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, assemblies, bills of material, and technical specifications.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Good communication skills with the ability to work effectively with Engineering, Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Customer Support.

Responsibilities

• Create, revise, and maintain 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, assemblies, and engineering documentation using SolidWorks.
• Support design changes, engineering releases, and drawing updates through the PDM software workflow.
• Assist with bills of material, part numbers, revision control, drawing packages, and document accuracy to support production, purchasing, quoting, and customer service needs.
• Prepare and update fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, installation details, layout drawings, and supporting documentation based on engineering direction.
• Work with Engineering, Production, and Quality to resolve drawing questions, fit-up concerns, manufacturability issues, and documentation gaps.
• Support the current production portfolio by troubleshooting manufacturing inefficiencies, recurring build issues, fit-up problems, and process-related concerns that may require engineering review or design clarification.
• Assist in investigating quality issues and warranty claims by reviewing drawings, parts, assemblies, field feedback, production history, and engineering documentation to help identify potential design, documentation, or manufacturing contributors.
• Recommend practical corrective actions, drawing updates, design improvements, or documentation changes to reduce repeat quality issues, production disruptions, and warranty-related concerns.
• Support product improvement, standardization, and cost-reduction initiatives by developing practical design updates under engineering guidance.
• Review legacy drawings and models for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with current engineering standards.
• Assist with engineering change requests by gathering required information, updating affected drawings, coordinating review comments, and supporting release readiness.
• Participate in design reviews, prototype evaluations, production feedback reviews, and corrective action discussions as needed.
• Support dimensional checks, basic design verification, component fit reviews, and engineering documentation validation.
• Design and help build basic design testing and validation fixtures to support product evaluation, prototype verification, production troubleshooting, quality investigations, and warranty-related analysis.
• Maintain organized engineering records and ensure released files are properly stored, controlled, approved, and accessible through PDM.
• Prepare clear documentation, summaries, and presentations to explain design changes, engineering updates, product modifications, and technical recommendations to different audiences, including Sales, Management, Production, Quality, and Customer Support.
• Communicate status, risks, missing information, and open action items clearly to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• HSA/FSA
• Wellness Plan
• 401(k) with match
• Disability
• Life Insurance
• Educational Reimbursement
• EAP
• Dependent Care

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level