Design for Manufacturing Engineer

Johnson Controls•Edmonton, AB

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Silent-Aire is a premier owner equipment manufacturer dedicated to providing custom solutions for data center customers. Our product line includes large-scale equipment such as air handling units and modular data centers. We pride ourselves on innovation, quality, and delivering tailored solutions to meet our clients' unique needs. The Design for Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in driving Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives within our OEM equipment manufacturing organization. This role owns manufacturability and safety outcomes for equipment designs ensuring products are robust, cost‑effective, safe, and production‑ready. Acting as the technical bridge between design intent and factory execution, this role directly supports Silent‑Aire’s transition from engineer‑intensive builds to repeatable, rate‑driven manufacturing systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a Technical/Associate Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with equivalent experience
7+ years of experience in equipment design, manufacturing engineering, or DFM‑focused roles
Senior‑level product design experience delivering complex equipment designs in a production environment
Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and drive alignment across multiple stakeholders
Proficiency in PTC Creo 9, with working knowledge of Windchill PLM and SAP
Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, forming, welding, and assembly processes
Demonstrated experience releasing production‑ready designs in an OEM manufacturing environment
Ability to provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and designers
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present and defend technical recommendations
Ability to interpret and influence PFMEA, tolerance strategies, and assembly sequencing
Working knowledge of industry standards and practices relevant to air handling and OEM equipment

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting high‑volume or rate‑driven manufacturing environments
Familiarity with structured change control and PLM systems (Windchill preferred)
Background in industrial or large‑scale equipment (HVAC, enclosures, modular systems, machinery)
Professional Engineer (P.Eng / P.L.Eng / P.Tech) designation or eligibility is an asset
Familiarity with standards and regulations related to data center equipment

Responsibilities

Working closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sustaining Engineering, the DFM Engineer acts as the technical bridge between design intent and factory execution driving design decisions that reduce complexity, eliminate rework, improve throughput, and lower total cost.
Lead DFM reviews for new and existing equipment designs to ensure manufacturing readiness prior to release
Identify and eliminate manufacturability risks related to tolerances, assembly sequence, access, ergonomics, tooling, and safety
Drive design simplification, part reduction, modularization, and standardization initiatives across EDE programs
Ensure designs support line‑rate production targets with minimal engineering intervention
Embed Design for Safety principles into all designs from concept through release, ensuring hazards are eliminated or mitigated at the design level—not through procedural controls
Ensure designs support safe manufacturing, assembly, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning, with appropriate access, guarding, and serviceability
Eliminate unsafe manufacturing practices (e.g., manual drilling, unsafe rework, poor access) through robust design solutions, sub‑assemblies, fixtures, and poka‑yoke features
Ensure ergonomic and human‑factors considerations are addressed to reduce injury risk during build and service activities
Participate in peer, manufacturing, and leadership design reviews with clear accountability for manufacturability and safety outcomes
Partner with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain to incorporate factory feedback early and continuously
Support PFMEA, virtual builds, and manufacturing sign‑off activities as part of the design release process
Act as a technical escalation point for manufacturability and safety issues identified during build or production ramp‑up
Develop, maintain, and enforce DFM guidelines, standard work, and design checklists within EDE
Ensure compliance with internal drafting standards and applicable codes (e.g., ASME Y14)
Support engineering change management by ensuring changes improve manufacturability and do not introduce downstream risk
Lead VA/VE initiatives focused on cost reduction, quality improvement, and cycle‑time reduction
Analyze manufacturing defects, rework, and non‑conformances to drive permanent design improvements
Contribute to SKU reduction, standard part adoption, and reuse targets across programs