Design Engineer

ITW•Harlem, NY

About The Position

The Design Engineer at ITW Deltar Fasteners reports to the Lead Project Engineer and leads and independently executes engineering projects, ensuring timely completion. The role focuses on designing and developing new automotive fasteners and fastener assemblies, using ITW’s Customer-Back Innovation process to deliver high-performance, cost-effective solutions that meet customer and industry requirements. It involves direct collaboration with customers and suppliers throughout the product development lifecycle, as well as transferring project knowledge and solutions across relevant OEM accounts to promote consistency and alignment. The position applies engineering principles to design and develop plastic fasteners, test fixtures, and custom test machines for automotive applications. The role also supports product development and broader engineering and business objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related scientific discipline.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver effective presentations.
Self-motivated, results-driven, and able to inspire and motivate others.
In-depth knowledge of plastic products and their applications in automotive environments.
Proficiency in 3D CAD software.
Strong engineering judgment and problem-solving capabilities.
Ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision.
Comfort working with global teams, including flexibility to accommodate different time zones.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and cloud-based collaboration tools.
Willingness to travel domestically and occasionally internationally as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with or ability to learn Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools.
Experience with SolidWorks and/or NX.

Responsibilities

Serve as project manager for assigned projects, coordinating with the sales team and customers to meet technical and performance requirements.
Create preliminary concepts, detailed engineering drawings, and supporting technical documentation.
Develop innovative and patentable design concepts and configurations for automotive fasteners and assemblies.
Evaluate designs for feasibility, manufacturability, and functional performance.
Research and evaluate alternative engineering approaches to improve product performance and meet evolving customer needs.
Compare and analyze design alternatives to identify optimal solutions, collaborating with the Innovation team as needed.
Perform functional and validation testing to ensure product reliability and compliance.
Communicate with suppliers about material specifications and technical requirements.
Prepare and submit patent applications for novel product designs.
Benchmark competitive products to identify opportunities for differentiation and improvement.
Transfer project knowledge and solutions across relevant OEM accounts.
Support broader engineering and business objectives through additional tasks as assigned.