Senior Design Engineer

AcuityInc•Decatur, GA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

Acuity Inc. is a market-leading industrial technology company focused on solving problems in spaces, light, and more. Through its business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), the company designs, manufactures, and markets products and services that enhance people's lives. Acuity Inc. drives growth through innovation in lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video, and control platform, focusing on customer outcomes and market share expansion. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with global operations and approximately 13,000 employees. This specific role is based in Decatur, GA, operating under a hybrid work model. The National Accounts and Vertical Solutions Engineering team is responsible for the rapid delivery of customer-specific, high-impact lighting solutions. This team collaborates closely with Sales, Product Management, Operations, Manufacturing, Certification and Testing, and other Engineering teams to execute time-critical, revenue-driving programs across various product portfolios. The Senior Design Engineer will manage the entire rapid product development lifecycle, from concept to production, including new product development, sustaining engineering, and addressing field issues. The role involves leading electro-mechanical product design and redesign, managing Bills of Material, and preparing detailed component drawings, all while ensuring adherence to performance, cost, quality, compliance, and scheduling requirements. A key aspect of this role is the rigorous validation of AI-generated insights, with human judgment and accountability remaining central to all engineering decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor of Engineering
3 to 5 years of mechanical and electrical design experience
Prior experience working with high-volume commercial or industrial products
Ability to move quickly from concept to prototype with sound engineering judgment
Strong capability in platform re-use, variant creation, and partial redesigns
Experience optimizing costed BOMs, component substitutions, and margin recovery strategies
Working knowledge of DFM, DFA, design validation, and manufacturing readiness
Experience supporting pilot builds, production launches, and production enablement
Familiarity with UL, safety approvals, and testing
Proficient with 2D & 3D CAD (Solidworks preferred), PLM software (Windchill preferred), and standard productivity tools (e.g., MS Office)
Proficient in LEAN / Six Sigma (DMAIC) tools (standard work, time studies, cause & effect, 5-Why).
Strong communication skills (verbal, written, sketches, and engineering drawings); effective in cross-functional teams.
Understanding of manufacturing methods for metals and plastics (stamping, drawing, casting, extrusion).
Demonstrated leadership to influence and align stakeholders to deliver new product development on time and within budget.
Knowledge of UL requirements and UL testing processes; understands and follows applicable industry and safety standards.
Strong discipline in PLM, BOM accuracy, and documentation
Strong prioritization skills and proven ability to manage diverse project scopes

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting customer-specific lighting programs
Experience developing and testing prototypes in a fast-paced engineering environment
Background in sustaining, advanced customization, lifecycle, or fast-turn Engineering roles
Experience with commercial or industrial lighting products

Responsibilities

Rapidly design, adapt, and deploy lighting solutions to meet customer-specific requirements and commercial objectives.
Execute product modifications, redesigns, and variants using existing platforms while balancing cost, performance, and schedule.
Lead technical execution for time-critical, high-revenue Customer programs in collaboration with Sales, Product Management, Operations, and Manufacturing.
Drive cost reduction, margin improvement, and inventory-driven redesign initiatives.
Support manufacturing readiness through DFM/DFA reviews, tooling decisions, pilot builds, and issue resolution.
Manage Engineering change execution including BOMs, Core Notes, ECOs, and PLM accuracy.
Ensure regulatory and compliance requirements (UL, DLC, safety) are met with minimal disruption to schedule.
Clearly communicate technical trade-offs, risks, and recommendations to cross-functional and leadership audiences.
Use AI-enabled tools to accelerate design exploration, surface risks earlier, and improve decision quality across the product life cycle.