Mechanical Engineer, Product Development
About The Position
J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. is seeking a versatile, hands-on Mechanical Engineer for its Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This centralized engineering team supports business units across the company’s commercial vehicle and upfit portfolio, developing products and technologies for a variety of applications and markets. Projects range from rapid development cycles to complex, multi-year product launches. The position focuses primarily on commercial truck bodies, while also supporting accessory designs and custom engineering requests for testing and manufacturing. The work combines CAD design, engineering analysis, prototyping, manufacturing support, supplier interaction, and customer engagement. The engineer will help lead projects from concept through design release and handoff, and may train and mentor interns, new engineers, and junior technical staff.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- 2–4 years of mechanical engineering experience; automotive or commercial vehicle experience is preferred.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks.
- Strong understanding of GD&T and tolerance analysis.
- Strong understanding of product lifecycle, DFMEA/PFMEA, DFM, and DVP&R.
- Familiarity with automotive and commercial truck standards, including SAE, ISO, and FMVSS.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Hands-on prototyping experience and experience with 3D printing technologies.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with body design.
- Background working with heavy-duty or fleet vehicle environments.
- Experience using COMSOL or similar FEA tools.
- Practical fabrication, machining, or shop-floor experience.
- Understanding of control systems.
- Experience with Microsoft Suite tools.
- Strong communication skills for customer and cross-functional interactions.
- Comfort working in an engineering team with diverse project scopes.
Responsibilities
- Lead and contribute to the design of commercial truck bodies and related mechanical systems.
- Support custom accessory, retrofit, and specialty engineering projects across multiple business units.
- Develop 3D models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.
- Apply GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and sound documentation practices.
- Perform structural and mechanical simulations, including FEA, and evaluate designs for durability in high-vibration and high-load environments.
- Use engineering principles to support product reliability, manufacturability, and safety.
- Conduct competitive benchmarking, reverse engineering, and VAVE activities.
- Work with prototype and fabrication teams to ensure designs are manufacturable.
- Provide design-for-manufacturing guidance for production processes and manufacturing lines.
- Participate in prototype builds, fit checks, and validation activities.
- Use 3D printing for prototyping, concept evaluation, fixtures, or low-volume components, accounting for additive manufacturing capabilities and constraints where applicable.
- Collaborate with engineers, designers, fabricators, and cross-functional teams.
- Provide centralized engineering support to multiple business units and varied project needs.
- Communicate with customers to gather requirements, present designs, and provide technical insights.
- Work with suppliers on feasibility reviews, design improvements, and manufacturing considerations.
- Lead engineering projects from concept through design release and handoff.
- Contribute to multidisciplinary project teams.
- Train, mentor, and guide interns, new engineers, and junior technical staff.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
