Product Design Engineer

OILGEAR TOWLER SA • Fremont, NE

14h

About The Position

The Product Design Engineer provides technical ownership and engineering support for Oilgear hydraulic products from design evaluation through manufacturing, testing, and product improvement. This role partners with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, Service, customers, and suppliers to improve product performance, manufacturability, cost, and quality while maintaining complete and accurate engineering documentation. The position independently evaluates design requests, develops and validates engineering solutions, leads product changes and improvement projects, and resolves complex product or manufacturing issues using sound engineering judgment and structured problem-solving methods.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a closely related engineering field.
• Three to five years of professional mechanical, product, or design engineering experience in a hydraulic, industrial equipment, or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience independently completing engineering projects from concept, analysis, and design through testing, documentation, and implementation.
• Proficiency creating and interpreting 3D models, engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Experience with product testing, technical data analysis, structured root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes and the ability to resolve design and production issues in partnership with shop-floor personnel.
• Strong technical writing, communication, organization, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• 3D CAD and engineering drawing systems, including SolidWorks or Inventor
• Engineering change control, document management, and ERP systems
• Tolerance analysis, GD&T, and design verification methods
• Hydraulic system, component, and test data analysis tools
• Microsoft Office applications

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing or supporting hydraulic pumps, motors, valves, or fluid power systems.
• Fluid Power Certification or advanced fluid power training.
• Experience with FEA, CFD, design for manufacturability, machining processes, or supplier qualification.
• Experience using ERP, PLM, or engineering document control systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering projects involving product improvements, cost reduction, supplier or process qualification, product robustness, and the development or launch of new features for existing hydraulic products.
• Perform and document engineering calculations, tolerance stack-ups, material selections, and design analyses for new products and design revisions.
• Create, review, and approve 3D models, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and related technical documentation.
• Conduct formal design reviews, evaluate technical risk, and ensure recommended actions are completed and documented.
• Evaluate the feasibility of customer requests, product configurations, and proposed design changes and provide clear technical recommendations.
• Develop verification and validation plans, write effective test requests, analyze engineering data, and summarize results in clear technical reports.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers in support of engineering projects and product decisions.
• Investigate product performance issues and lead structured root cause and corrective action activities using methods such as 8D and 5 Why.
• Provide advanced technical support to Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Purchasing, customers, and suppliers.
• Partner with production personnel to resolve manufacturing and assembly issues involving drawings, tolerances, materials, tooling, fixtures, and product performance.
• Review designs for manufacturability and recommend changes that improve safety, quality, repeatability, lead time, and cost without compromising product requirements.
• Support the development and revision of manufacturing instructions, inspection criteria, process documentation, and technical training materials.
• Support new product introductions and design changes on the shop floor, including first-build review, process validation, and corrective follow-through.
• Maintain product design control and ensure engineering changes, approvals, records, and release documentation are accurate and complete.
• Develop and execute project plans that define objectives, schedules, resources, risks, deliverables, and cross-functional responsibilities.
• Manage multiple technical priorities and communicate project status, risks, and decisions to stakeholders.
• Stay current with engineering methods, fluid power technology, manufacturing processes, and industry practices applicable to Oilgear products.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Optional hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Safety shoe reimbursement program
• Safety glasses reimbursement program
• Tuition assistance up to $5,000 per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level