Design for Manufacturing Engineer

Join Silent-Aire — Powering the World’s Data Centers

Silent-Aire, a division of Johnson Controls, is a global leader in owner equipment manufacturing (OEM) dedicated to providing custom solutions for data center customers. Our product line includes large-scale equipment such as air handling units and modular data centers. We pride ourselves on innovation, quality, and delivering tailored solutions to meet our clients' unique needs.

Position Overview:

The Design for Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in driving Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives within our OEM equipment manufacturing organization. This role owns manufacturability and safety outcomes for equipment designs ensuring products are robust, cost‑effective, safe, and production‑ready.

Acting as the technical bridge between design intent and factory execution, this role directly supports Silent‑Aire’s transition from engineer‑intensive builds to repeatable, rate‑driven manufacturing systems.

What you will do:

Working closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sustaining Engineering, the DFM Engineer acts as the technical bridge between design intent and factory execution driving design decisions that reduce complexity, eliminate rework, improve throughput, and lower total cost.

How you will do it:

Lead DFM reviews for new and existing equipment designs to ensure manufacturing readiness prior to release

• Identify and eliminate manufacturability risks related to tolerances, assembly sequence, access, ergonomics, tooling, and safety

• Drive design simplification, part reduction, modularization, and standardization initiatives across EDE programs

• Ensure designs support line‑rate production targets with minimal engineering intervention

• Embed Design for Safety principles into all designs from concept through release, ensuring hazards are eliminated or mitigated at the design level—not through procedural controls

• Ensure designs support safe manufacturing, assembly, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning, with appropriate access, guarding, and serviceability

• Eliminate unsafe manufacturing practices (e.g., manual drilling, unsafe rework, poor access) through robust design solutions, sub‑assemblies, fixtures, and poka‑yoke features

• Ensure ergonomic and human‑factors considerations are addressed to reduce injury risk during build and service activities

• Participate in peer, manufacturing, and leadership design reviews with clear accountability for manufacturability and safety outcomes

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain to incorporate factory feedback early and continuously

• Support PFMEA, virtual builds, and manufacturing sign‑off activities as part of the design release process

• Act as a technical escalation point for manufacturability and safety issues identified during build or production ramp‑up

Standards, Processes, and Governance

• Develop, maintain, and enforce DFM guidelines, standard work, and design checklists within EDE

• Ensure compliance with internal drafting standards and applicable codes (e.g., ASME Y14)

• Support engineering change management by ensuring changes improve manufacturability and do not introduce downstream risk

Continuous Improvement & Throughput Enablement

• Lead VA/VE initiatives focused on cost reduction, quality improvement, and cycle‑time reduction

• Analyze manufacturing defects, rework, and non‑conformances to drive permanent design improvements

• Contribute to SKU reduction, standard part adoption, and reuse targets across programs

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a Technical/Associate Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with equivalent experience

• 7+ years of experience in equipment design, manufacturing engineering, or DFM‑focused roles

• Senior‑level product design experience delivering complex equipment designs in a production environment

• Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and drive alignment across multiple stakeholders

• Proficiency in PTC Creo 9, with working knowledge of Windchill PLM and SAP

• Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, forming, welding, and assembly processes

• Demonstrated experience releasing production‑ready designs in an OEM manufacturing environment

• Ability to provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and designers

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present and defend technical recommendations

• Ability to interpret and influence PFMEA, tolerance strategies, and assembly sequencing

• Working knowledge of industry standards and practices relevant to air handling and OEM equipment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting high‑volume or rate‑driven manufacturing environments

• Familiarity with structured change control and PLM systems (Windchill preferred)

• Background in industrial or large‑scale equipment (HVAC, enclosures, modular systems, machinery)

• Professional Engineer (P.Eng / P.L.Eng / P.Tech) designation or eligibility is an asset

• Familiarity with standards and regulations related to data center equipment