Design Engineer II

DISHER•Kalamazoo, MI

11d

About The Position

DISHER is seeking a Design Engineer to apply advanced mechanical engineering design and product development expertise to customer projects, primarily in the furniture industry. The role involves taking products from concept through launch, designing, developing, and validating physical products and assemblies, and helping shape technical direction. The Design Engineer collaborates across mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams to deliver full product development. The position also involves leading technical decisions and design reviews, developing validation strategies, supporting customer engagements and business development, improving engineering practices, and mentoring entry-level engineers. Customer and vendor engagement may take place on-site, with local travel essential and occasional domestic travel.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience in mechanical design and product development.
Self-starter with an entrepreneurial, adaptable mindset.
Strong problem-solving skills and comfort operating in ambiguity and shaping undefined requirements.
Proven experience with CAD software such as Creo and/or SolidWorks.
Advanced-level knowledge of design engineering tools such as FMEA and DVP&R.
Strong understanding of engineering materials, including plastics, metals, and composites, and manufacturing processes.
Ability to travel to local customer sites; occasional domestic travel is required.
Excellent communication skills and ability to work directly with customers and cross-functional teams.
Ability to document work thoroughly and communicate technical concepts effectively.
Current and continuing right to work in the United States without restrictions or expirations.

Responsibilities

Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams to support full product development.
Lead the design, development, and validation of mechanical assemblies and product systems, including CAD modeling, tolerance and fit analysis, and strength calculations.
Design, prototype, test, and document mechanical designs for new product development.
Apply mechanical engineering principles, including mathematical modeling, FMEA, DVP&R, and manufacturing process knowledge.
Lead design reviews and guide technical decision-making across projects.
Develop and execute validation strategies, including testing at certified labs and field validation.
Estimate technical tasks, timelines, and project scope for customer engagements.
Contribute to and improve internal engineering tools, processes, and best practices.
Support business development through technical input on proposals and customer discussions.
Mentor entry-level engineers and contribute to developing team capabilities and consulting excellence.
Engage with customers and vendors on-site, providing technical leadership and building strong relationships.