Design Engineer --- DIRECT HIRE/PERMANENT!

Manpower Engineering is exclusively partnering with a very reputable, well-established and growing company in Twin Lakes, WI on a few highly visible and direct hire/permanent Design Engineer positions that are available due to continued growth and offer strong professional development and growth opportunities.

The company is an advanced manufacturer, specializing in the forming/fabricating of polycarbonate & acrylic windows, advanced composites, and thermoformed plastics – experience with plastics is a plus, not required. Over 40 years ago they stemmed their roots from the high-performance automotive racing industry, and became experts in manufacturing large, complex composite body panels and windshields that require both structural integrity and aesthetic quality. Our client is proud to have emerged into a wider variety of industries and markets, including Transportation, Automotive, Mass Transit, Personal Protection, Defense, Aerospace, Heavy Equipment, and Construction & Agriculture. The company is dedicated to technical innovation, professional performance and providing uncompromising quality parts and unmatched customer service.

• Compensation Plan: Depending on qualifications/experience, this opportunity can offer up to a base salary of $115,000 plus bonus.
• Full Benefits Package: The company pays 100% of the medical, dental, and vision premiums for everyone on the plan.

JOB DESCRIPTION  

Design Engineer – Racing:

• A CAD-forward role focused on the racing side of the business: designing race car bodies, body components, and automotive parts produced through thermoforming, composite fabrication, and additive manufacturing.
• Working primarily in PTC Creo, develops complex surfaced 3D models from concepts, vehicle scan data, and customer requirements, and carries designs through production- ready 2D drawings, molds, tooling, and fixtures.
• Serves as the engineering representative between customers, the sales department, and production staff on new product development, design, production and quality, and continually searches for new products and processes to improve and expand our manufacturing capabilities.

Design Engineer – Windows:

• A CAD-forward role that combines strong 3D design skills with hands-on manufacturing support.
• Working primarily in PTC Creo, creates and maintains 3D models, 2D production drawings, BOMs, and engineering documentation for new and existing products.
• This position also owns day-to-day operation of the company’s Titan large-format 3D printer, using additive manufacturing to produce prototypes, tooling, fixtures, and production parts, and helping grow this capability across the business.
• Serves as the engineering representative between customers, the sales department, and production staff on new product development, design, production, and quality, and continually searches for new products and processes to improve and expand our manufacturing capabilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design Engineer – Racing:

• Project Specifications:
  • Design race car bodies, body components, and automotive parts in PTC Creo- developing complex surfaced 3D models and assemblies from concepts, vehicle scan data, and customer requirements.
  • Produce production-level 2D drawings, part number, BOMs, and routers.
  • Perform and support 3D scanning and reverse engineering of vehicles, bodies, and parts to develop models and tooling.
  • Maintain CAD standards: drawing templates, file organization, and revision control for internal and external engineering files and documents.
  • Provide design support to production, quality, and sales, including engineering adaptions to meet customer requirements.

• Tooling, Thermoforming & Composites:
  • Design molds, plugs, patterns, and trim fixtures for thermoformed and composite parts.
  • Apply design-for-manufacturing principles for thermoforming (draft, material, distribution, trim) and composite layup in new part designs.
  • Support manufacturing trials and first articles; refine part designs, tooling, and processes based on results.
  • Research new plastics, composite materials, and forming processes to improve quality and expand manufacturing capabilities.

• Workstation/General Tasks:
  • Responsible for understanding and knowing how to use company ERP system to transact as it applies to position.
  • Apply techniques to resolve issues or increase efficiency without changing processes.
  • Share observations, efficiency issues and suggestions to your support and management staff.
  • Keep hardware and equipment clean and in good working order.
  • Operating knowledge of all office equipment and software used.
  • Assist with other duties as requested, directed or assigned by Manager.
  • Must keep all recyclable waste separated in accordance to company policy and dispose of trash daily.
  • Maintain clean and orderly equipment and warehouse/working area while following prescribed safety regulations.

• QMS, Policies, Procedures & Safety:
  • Follow all Safety / OSHA standards policies and procedures at all times.
  • Report all incidents (spills, accidents, reoccurring problems) to Management for corrective action.
  • Understand and follow Company Quality Policy and Core Values.
  • Ability to read and interpret and follow all department specific documented instructions, and department specific Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
  • Follow and abide by all company workplace policies and procedures stated in Company Employee Handbook.

Design Engineer – Windows:

• Project Specifications:
  • Create and maintain 3D models, assemblies, and production-level 2D drawings in PTC for new and existing products.
  • Maintain CAD standards: drawing templates, file organization, and revision control for internal and external engineering files and documents.
  • Create production-level part numbers, BOMs, and routers.
  • Support 3D scanning and reverse-engineering of parts as needed to develop models and tooling.
  • Provide design support to production, quality, and sales, including engineering adaptions to meet customer requirements.

• Process Development & Improvement:
  • Develop long-term relationships with internal sales teams, customers, and vendors by managing and interpreting their requirements.
  • Determine and develop manufacturing processes and materials of new products to optimize efficiency, increase quality, and manufacturability.
  • Provide engineering support to related to process modifications for new product development.
  • Oversee new processes, develop innovative solutions and new product introductions through manufacturing trials.
  • Research new manufacturing technology, production processes, materials, and vendors.

• Workstation/General Tasks:
  • Responsible for understanding and knowing how to use company ERP system to transact as it applies to position.
  • Apply techniques to resolve issues or increase efficiency without changing processes.
  • Share observations, efficiency issues and suggestions to your support and management staff.
  • Keep hardware and equipment clean and in good working order.
  • Operating knowledge of all office equipment and software used.
  • Assist with other duties as requested, directed or assigned by Manager.
  • Must keep all recyclable waste separated in accordance to company policy and dispose of trash daily.
  • Maintain clean and orderly equipment and warehouse/working area while following prescribed safety regulations.

• QMS, Policies, Procedures, & Safety:
  • Follow all Safety / OSHA standards policies and procedures at all times.
  • Report all incidents (spills, accidents, reoccurring problems) to Management for corrective action.
  • Understand and follow Company Quality Policy and Core Values.
  • Ability to read and interpret and follow all department specific documented instructions, and department specific Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
  • Follow and abide by all company workplace policies and procedures stated in Company Employee Handbook.

EXPECTED CHARACTERISTICS:

• Must exhibit a positive progressive attitude.
• A team player with strong facilitation, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Deliver quality results that meet deadlines in a challenging environment.
• Maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and management, excellent leadership skills.
• Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy with the ability to prioritize multiple concurrent tasks.
• Possess a strong sense of urgency with a high level of commitment to obtaining goals and objectives, strong follow-through skills.
• Focused on company success, insist on excellence, boundary-less while continually searching for and applying the best ideas.
• A motivated self-starter with strong analytical skills
• Comfortable using a team approach to problem solving.
• Open to new practices and techniques
• Maintain a positive mental attitude; self-directed with the ability to exercise independent sound judgement and action.
• Customer service minded and focused on striving for customer satisfaction.
• Have excellent knowledge of the product line and part # system.
• Willingness to work in a flexible schedule while being adaptable to quick changes.
• Ability to write technical reports in a clear, accurate, and complete form.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Design Engineer – Racing:

• Required:
  • Associate’s Degree in Engineering or a related field. Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a related field is a plus.
  • 3+ years of experience.
  • Recent experience and proficiency with a 3D design program. Experience with PTC Creo is preferred.
  • Strong surfacing skills; complex-curvature and aesthetic surfaces such as body panels, built from concepts and 3D scan data, along with solid modeling and assembly design.
  • Able to produce accurate, production-ready 2D drawings with proper dimensioning and tolerancing.
  • Disciplined CAD data management: file structure, templates, and revision control.
  • Aptitude for design-for-manufacturing across thermoforming, composites, and additive processes- draft, trim, material behavior, and tooling consideration.
  • Prior 3D printing experience is a strong plus.
  • Strong analytical skills and problem-solving techniques; process evaluation and plan implementation.
  • Strong communication, relationship, and project management skills with close attention to detail.
  • Advanced computer proficiency; ability to track and analyze data.
  • Ability to write procedures, work instructions, and clear technical reports.

• Preferred:
  • Motorsports, automotive body, or vehicle exterior design and manufacturing experience.
  • Thermoforming/ vacuum forming part and tooling design: molds, patterns, and trim fixtures.
  • Composite part, mold, and plug design (fiberglass, carbon fiber); familiarity with layup processes.
  • Hand-on experience with large-format or industrial 3D printing (pellet or filament extrusion), slicing software, and designing for additive manufacturing (DFAM)
  • 3D scanning and reverse engineering of vehicles, bodies, and parts.
  • Familiarity with CNC trimming and machining of formed and printed parts.
  • Lean manufacturing, 5S, and quality management systems; participation in customer quality specification verification

Design Engineer – Windows:

• Required:
  • Associate’s Degree in Engineering or a related field. Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a related field is a plus.
  • 3+ years of experience.
  • Recent experience and proficiency with a 3D design program. Experience with PTC Creo is preferred.
  • Solid modeling, surfacing, and assembly design, able to produce accurate, production-ready 2D drawings with proper dimensioning and tolerancing.
  • Disciplined CAD data management: file structure, templates, and revision control.
  • Aptitude and enthusiasm for additive manufacturing- willingness to learn and own operation 3D printer (job setup, slicing, materials, and routine maintenance); prior 3D printing experience is a strong plus.
  • Strong analytical skills and problem-solving techniques; process evaluation and plan implementation.
  • Strong communication, relationship, and project management skills with close attention to detail.
  • Advanced computer proficiency; ability to track and analyze data.
  • Ability to write procedures, work instructions, and clear technical reports.

• Preferred:
  • Designing for additive manufacturing (DFAM): fixtures, tooling, molds, and end-use parts.
  • 3D scanning and reverse engineering workflows.
  • Participation in customer quality specification, verification, and construction.
  • Lean manufacturing, 5S, and quality management systems.
  • Familiarity with common material handling equipment; licensed forklift truck operator.
  • Window, glazing, plastics, or composites manufacturing experience a plus, not required.