Product Development & Design Engineer

DPP•Reidsville, NC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

DPP is seeking a Product Development & Design Engineer for an opportunity with our client in Reidsville, NC. This is a hybrid role in Reidsville, NC. The engineer will take new aviation refueling products from concept through production release. This involves developing concepts based on customer requirements, creating 3D CAD layouts and complete drawing packages, integrating mechanical, fluid, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical subsystems, prototyping and testing, and transitioning the design to manufacturing within budget and on schedule. This is a hands-on design role with systems-level ownership, requiring the engineer to consider the behavior of the full vehicle or skid, and how components interact with controls, plumbing, operators, service technicians, and the production floor. In addition to new product development, the engineer will support internal projects for facilities and manufacturing improvements. Project scope can vary from a full new-product drawing package to addressing day-to-day production line emergencies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
1-3 years of relevant mechanical design experience in a manufacturing environment, including demonstrated ownership of a product or major subsystem from concept through production release.
Fluent in 3D modeling software (SolidWorks preferred) and proficient in 2D drafting software (DraftSight or AutoCAD).
Design experience in welded structures and framing, pipe layouts, sheet metal design, and other mechanical systems.
Working understanding of fluid, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
Understanding of manufacturing equipment and processes (plasma cutting, waterjet table, CNC lathe, welding, plate bending, CNC tube bending).
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, specifications, and technical manuals, and to estimate cost and budget for a project.
High energy, strong communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and demonstrated success in a team environment.
As needed, travel domestically and abroad.

Nice To Haves

Experience with aviation ground support equipment, automotive, heavy truck, or industrial vehicles.
Formal new product development or stage-gate process experience.
Working knowledge of electrical and control systems sufficient to collaborate on integrated designs (PLC, CAN bus, HMI, harnesses, sensors, actuators).
Stress analysis and computer-assisted FEA; DFM/DFA or tolerance stack-up analysis.
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, and costing as related to stainless steel vs. aluminum vs. carbon steel.
Experience with PDM systems for drawing revision control (i.e., SolidWorks PDM) and ERP systems (i.e., Jobscope).

Responsibilities

Own the mechanical design of new products and major product revisions from concept through production release.
Translate customer requirements, market input, and sales proposals into engineering specifications and design criteria.
Develop and evaluate design concepts for performance, reliability, serviceability, cost, and manufacturability; assess feasibility, operating condition effects, and possible new applications.
Build, instrument, and test prototypes; define test plans, capture results, and drive design changes from the data.
Lead design reviews, perform supporting engineering calculations, and document decisions, risks, and open items.
Benchmark vendor and competitor products; estimate labor, material, and production costs and manage launch schedules to budget.
Design mechanical layouts and systems in 3D CAD (SolidWorks) — parts, high-end parametric models, complex assemblies, and drawings.
Create and maintain complete drawing packages under revision control (SolidWorks PDM); revise existing models and drawings with minimal supervision.
Modify and update schematics in DraftSight or AutoCAD; interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and specifications.
Apply appropriate tolerancing; validate material and component selection, tolerances, performance, cost, and manufacturability.
Create and maintain bills of material, part masters, and raw material records in the Jobscope ERP system.
Develop part build files for automated equipment (waterjet, plasma and plasma pipe cutter, label engraver, CNC lathe) and evolve CAD/drawing best practices and standards.
Own the design at the system level — mechanical, fluid, pneumatic, hydraulic, structural, and electrical interfaces — not just the individual component.
Partner with the Electrical Engineer to integrate control systems, sensors, valves, actuators, and harness routing into the mechanical package; coordinate with the Vessel Engineer on tank interfaces and code-driven constraints.
Carry projects through all phases: spec review with the customer, design, hand-off to manufacturing, and product life-cycle management.
Work cross-functionally with operations, procurement, quality, service, sales, and customers; prioritize the critical few and communicate clearly on roadblocks and status.
Provide assembly support during builds and support manufacturing engineering through the drawing release process.
Investigate equipment, product, and field failures; recommend design modifications that eliminate malfunctions and improve first-pass yield.
Prepare specifications for material and equipment purchases; correspond with purchasing to procure alternate components as necessary.
Design tooling, fixtures, jigs, guarding, and workholding to improve safety, quality, and throughput.
Support facilities improvement projects — equipment selection and installation, plant layout, material flow, and utility routing — scoping, budgeting, and managing them to completion.
Provide documentation and technical support to field service and sales.