Mechanical Design Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description 
Aerolab is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a Mechanical Design Manager position. The position is full-time. The candidate will lead a small team of mechanical designers responsible for the component and system level design of wind tunnel equipment, which is primarily fabricated from steel, in coordination with the company’s mechanical engineering and project teams. Primary responsibilities will include overseeing, coordinating, and verifying the work product of the design team to ensure that SolidWorks models and drawings are accurate, complete, and suitable for fabrication and installation.

Duties and Responsibilities 
The candidate is expected to perform the following routine functions:
• Oversee the day-to-day work of a small team of mechanical designers, assigning tasks and setting priorities to meet project schedules
• Coordinate design activities with mechanical engineers, project engineers, and project managers to ensure design intent and customer specifications are met
• Properly interpret design specifications, drawings, and schematics and communicate requirements clearly to the design team
• Review and verify SolidWorks models, assemblies, and drawings for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company standards prior to release
• Perform drafting checks of fabrication, machining, assembly, and installation drawings, including dimensioning, GD&T, weld callouts, and bills of materials
• Verify that steel weldments, plate and sheet metal components, and structural assemblies are designed for practical and economical fabrication
• Review tolerance stack-ups, fits, and interfaces between components, subassemblies, and customer-supplied equipment
• Establish, maintain, and enforce CAD modeling, drawing, and file management standards
• Manage drawing revisions, engineering changes, and the release of drawing packages to the shop and to outside vendors
• Respond to fabrication questions and coordinate the resolution of design issues found during fabrication and installation
• Mentor and train designers in SolidWorks best practices, drafting standards, and fabrication considerations
• Track design progress and hours against project budgets and schedules and report status to engineering and project management
• Create parts, assemblies, and drawings in SolidWorks when required to support project needs
• Function as part of a Product Design Team in coordination with design and project engineers

Required Skills 
• Proficient in SolidWorks with extensive experience designing parts, assemblies, weldments, and sheet metal components and creating detailed drawings
• Experience leading, supervising, or coordinating the work of mechanical designers or drafters
• Experience checking and approving engineering drawings for fabrication
• Proficient in GD&T and various methods of tolerance analysis
• Thorough knowledge of welded steel fabrication, including weld symbols and structural steel shapes
• Knowledge of sheet metal design and fabrication
• Knowledge of design for CNC machining
• Familiarity with rotating machinery including fans and drive systems
• Familiarity with structural design of steel support systems
• Experience with drawing revision control and engineering change processes; experience with SolidWorks PDM is a plus
• Experience in design of machinery components and systems
• Experience in computer aided drafting techniques and standard engineering practices
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office and Word Processing software
• Strong organizational and time management skills, high work ethics
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities to meet target dates
• Good communication skills, with the ability to give clear direction and constructive feedback
• Focused, methodical, and detail oriented with good analytical skills
• Familiarity with machine shop and fabrication shop practices is a plus
• Experience with wind tunnels or aerodynamic test equipment is a plus

Education and Experience 
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and mechanical design experience
• Minimum of 5 years of mechanical design experience, including at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory design role

Location and Travel 
• The position is based at Aerolab’s main facility in Jessup MD
• Occasional offsite travel to customer sites and fabrication vendors may be required