Mechanical Engineer, Product Development

JB Poindexter & Co•Ann Arbor, MI

63d•Onsite

About The Position

JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) is a diversified manufacturing company with significant annual revenue and a large team. The Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization supports nine business units in the commercial vehicle sector. This team focuses on developing and launching innovative products and technologies. The environment is dynamic and project-based, managing projects from rapid development to multi-year launches. They are seeking a versatile and hands-on Mechanical Engineer with 2-4 years of experience to join their Corporate Engineering team. This role will serve as an internal engineering resource supporting multiple businesses on a variety of product development projects, primarily commercial truck bodies, but also custom accessories and engineering requests. The role involves design, analysis, prototyping, manufacturing support, supplier interaction, and customer engagement, requiring an engineer comfortable in both CAD and hands-on shop environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
2 – 4 years of experience in mechanical engineering, preferably in automotive or commercial vehicle industries.
Proficiency in SolidWorks.
Strong understanding of GD&T.
Strong understanding of Tolerance analysis.
Strong understanding of Product lifecycle.
Strong understanding of DFMEA / PFMEA.
Strong understanding of DFM.
Strong understanding of DVP&R (Design Verification Plan and Report).
Familiarity with automotive and commercial truck standards (SAE, ISO, FMVSS).
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Hands-on prototyping experience.
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.
Control systems understanding
Experience with Microsoft Suite of tools
Strong communication skills for customer and cross-functional interactions.
Comfort working in an engineering team with diverse project scopes.
A broad, adaptable problem solver—not overly specialized.
Someone who enjoys a mix of CAD, analysis, prototyping, and hands-on engineering.
A team-oriented engineer who can lead when necessary and support others when needed.
A self starter who thrives working on varied projects in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to the design of commercial truck bodies and related mechanical systems.
Support custom accessories, 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 proper documentation practices.
Perform structural and mechanical simulations (i.e., FEA).
Evaluate designs for durability in heavy-duty, high-vibration, and high-load environments.
Use sound engineering principles to ensure reliability, manufacturability, and safety.
Conduct competitive benchmarking activities, reverse engineering, and VAVE (Value Analysis/Value Engineering).
Work closely with in-house prototype and fabrication teams to ensure manufacturable designs.
Provide DFM (Design for Manufacturability) guidance for production processes and manufacturing lines.
Participate in hands-on prototype builds, fit checks, and validation activities.
Utilize 3D printing for prototyping, concept evaluation, fixtures, or low-volume components.
Incorporate additive manufacturing constraints and capabilities into design work when applicable.
Collaborate with mechanical engineers, designers, fabricators, and cross-functional teams.
Serve as an internal centralized engineering resource to multiple business units, supporting diverse project needs.
Communicate directly 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.
Support multi-disciplinary project teams as a key contributor.
Train, mentor, and guide interns, new engineers, and junior technical staff.