Lead Design & Manufacturing Engineer

MASTER DO NOT USE•Fort Lupton, CO

1d•$110,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

If you’re the kind of engineer who wants to see their ideas turn into real, working products — not just drawings on a screen — this role was built for you. At Merritt Aluminum Products, you’ll be at the center of designing and launching new truck accessories while also improving and refining the products that thousands of trucks depend on every day. You won’t be handed a narrow slice of a product and told to stay in your lane — you’ll lead design projects from concept through production, working side-by-side with fabricators, welders, and assembly teams to make sure what gets built is strong, efficient, and something you’re proud to put your name on. This is a senior, hands-on engineering role for someone who wants real responsibility and real impact. You’ll shape new product lines, influence how we design and manufacture across the company, and help define what the next generation of Merritt products looks like. If you enjoy solving real problems, improving how things are made, and being the technical leader in the room, this role gives you a rare chance to do meaningful work with a team that values quality, innovation, and doing things the right way. The Lead Manufacturing Engineer will serve as the Engineering Manager’s primary technical partner. This role is a great fit for an engineer who enjoys designing products, working closely with the shop floor, and owning projects from concept through production. This is not a desk-only position and requires regular time on the shop floor, addressing manufacturing issues and working closely with production departments. The ideal candidate will be comfortable in the shop environment as well as collaborating daily with planning, production and sales. Why Merritt Aluminum Products? Have you ever worked for a two-time ‘Best Company to Work for in Colorado’ winner? Do you enjoy working for a company that is growing, with big company benefits and a small company feel? In 2019 and again in 2024, Merritt Aluminum Products had the honor of winning the Best Companies to Work for in Colorado by CoBiz. We pride ourselves in being the best for our employees, our customers, and each other. Along with having amazing co-workers by your side, we offer a total compensation package that includes: PTO Paid holidays Generous employer contributions to medical, dental, vision, and life insurance Company paid life insurance and additional voluntary life available Voluntary long term & short-term disability Quarterly profit-sharing bonus potential 401(k) with company match The hiring range for this position is $110,000-$120,000 per year depending on experience.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent amount of education and training.
Advanced design and mechanical modeling skills, preferably including SolidWorks experience.
3-10+ years of relevant experience in a Mechanical Engineering role.
Takes charge of project goals and anticipates real customer needs.
Experience designing fabricated metal components, preferably aluminum.
Understanding of tolerances, manufacturability, bending/forming, welding and assembly processes.
Thrives in a hands-on role where priorities can shift based on production needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in heavy-duty truck, fleet equipment or work truck accessory space.
Background in a small or mid-sized manufacturer.
Practical shop experience: CNC fabrication, welding, assembly.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of new products, from concept through production release.
Create and maintain 3D models, drawings, and engineering documentation using Solid Works, PDM, Radan and related tools.
Develop and release manufacturing-ready designs, including cut files, CNC programs, bend data and assembly packages.
Work directly with fabrication, welding, and assembly groups to ensure designs are efficient, buildable and cost-effective.
Troubleshoot production issues and implement design or process improvements to improve quality, yield and throughput.
Spearhead technical execution of assigned projects and ensure engineering deliverables are completed on schedule.
Maintain project timelines, communicate risks and proactively resolve design or manufacturing delays.
Coordinate testing, validation and revision cycles to ensure designs are production ready before release.
Schedules adequate time for QA, testing, design fixes, and team/customer feedback.
Work closely with Sales, Production Control and the Shop to translate customer requirements into buildable products.
Provide technical guidance during quoting, scheduling, and production planning.
Support continuous improvement initiatives across engineering and manufacturing.
Lead engineers and designers, helping raise technical standards and design quality.
Provide support, feedback and technical direction to the engineering team.
Support development plans and help build long-term engineering capability for the company.
Ensure all designs meet applicable safety, DOT, FMVSS and other State and Federal regulations.
Maintain proper labeling, warnings and installation instructions to protect customers and limit company liability.
Review new and existing products for compliance and risk reduction