Industrial Design Engineer

LeClaire Manufacturing Co•Bettendorf, IA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

LeClaire Manufacturing is seeking a hands-on Design Engineer to support aluminum foundry and machining operations in Bettendorf, Iowa. The role focuses on designing and improving tooling used in production, including permanent molds, foundry patterns, machining fixtures, and production tooling. The engineer will take projects from concept and customer data through tooling development and production launch, collaborating closely with foundry, machining, quality, and production teams to ensure designs work in practice. The position also supports troubleshooting, continuous improvement, new product launches, and cost-reduction projects. Experience with permanent mold tooling, foundry patterns, machining fixtures, or similar manufacturing tooling is especially relevant; MAGMASOFT/MAGMA casting simulation experience is a bonus. Strong directly relevant tooling experience may be considered in place of formal education.

Requirements

Strong 3D CAD and mechanical design skills.
Experience designing tooling, fixtures, patterns, molds, or similar equipment for a manufacturing environment.
Ability to read and develop engineering drawings and work with GD&T and dimensional tolerances.
Practical understanding of how parts and tooling are manufactured.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot alongside production personnel.
Comfort working on the manufacturing floor, not only at a desk.
Strong, directly relevant experience designing manufacturing tooling, molds, patterns, or fixtures; such experience may be considered in place of formal education.

Nice To Haves

Experience with permanent mold tooling.
Experience with foundry pattern and tooling design.
Experience with machining fixture design.
Experience with aluminum casting.
Experience with CNC machining and manufacturing processes.
Experience with tooling development and troubleshooting.
Experience with MAGMASOFT/MAGMA casting simulation.

Responsibilities

Design and modify permanent molds, foundry patterns, machining fixtures, and production tooling.
Create 3D models, detailed drawings, and manufacturing documentation.
Take projects from concept and customer data through tooling development and production launch.
Work with foundry, machining, quality, and production teams to ensure designs function in production.
Troubleshoot tooling, casting, machining, and dimensional issues.
Improve existing tooling for quality, repeatability, productivity, and tool life.
Incorporate draft, shrinkage, machining stock, parting lines, tolerances, and fixture requirements into designs.
Participate in design reviews and collaborate with internal teams and outside tooling suppliers.
Support new product launches, continuous improvement, and cost-reduction projects.
Spend time on the manufacturing floor working alongside production personnel.