Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Design Engineer – Engineer-to-Order

Job Description

The Engineer-to-Order (ETO) Design Engineer executes mechanical design activities for comfort cooling and data center cooling programs, focusing on customizing and enhancing large commercial HVAC and chiller products. This role centers on creating, updating, and releasing high-quality 3D models, detailed CAD drawings, and accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs) within tight timelines and with a strong emphasis on error-free execution. The Design Engineer works closely with systems engineering and design staff to support an ETO group that modifies standard products for complex, customer-specific requirements, including seismic considerations, electrical changes, special coatings, and capacity variations. This position is ideal for a mechanically focused designer who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoys working on large, industrial-scale products and data center cooling solutions.

Responsibilities

• Execute mechanical design activities for comfort cooling and data center cooling programs within an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environment.
• Develop, modify, and maintain 3D parametric models in CREO Parametric, including working with legacy models that may require significant updates.
• Create and update detailed CAD drawings, ensuring compliance with drafting standards and procedures and proper application of GD&T for design.
• Generate, manage, and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) within Windchill, including complex industrial products with 3,000–5,000 BOM items.
• Use CREO features such as Simplified Representations and Family Tables to efficiently manage product variants and ETO configurations.
• Support customization of standard products for ETO projects, including seismic considerations, color changes, electrical changes, special coatings, UPS, power/voltage variations, and capacity changes.
• Work with Top Level Assemblies and manage large assembly models, ensuring performance and accuracy in a complex product environment.
• Incorporate manufacturing considerations into designs, with a strong understanding of basic metal fabrication and manufacturing processes and their design impacts.
• Design and support sheet metal and piping components and assemblies, collaborating with manufacturing teams to ensure producibility.
• Participate in and support the Engineering Change process, including Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), ensuring accurate and timely updates.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams, including custom, large, medium, and small product engineering groups, as well as new product development and sustaining teams.
• Ensure the quality, accuracy, and completeness of all design work, meeting hardline schedule deliverables and project milestones.
• Apply a general understanding of electro-mechanical control systems and electrical components to support integration within mechanical designs.
• Document design decisions, maintain design records, and support design reviews by providing clear models, drawings, and BOMs.
• Contribute creative ideas for product design improvements and support product development activities as needed.
• Communicate effectively with engineers, project stakeholders, and manufacturing teams to clarify requirements, resolve issues, and support successful project execution.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with 3+ years of experience in Mechanical Design, OR Associate’s Degree in Engineering with 5+ years of experience in Mechanical Design.
• At least 2 years of recent, hands-on experience with CREO Parametric in a professional setting.
• Proven experience with complex 3D parametric modeling, including working with Simplified Representations and Family Tables in CREO.
• Strong proficiency with PDM Windchill, including BOM creation, maintenance, and management within a PLM environment.
• Solid understanding and practical experience with drafting standards and procedures, including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) for design.
• Experience working with complex industrial products and large BOM structures (approximately 3,000–5,000 BOM items).
• Experience with Engineering Change processes, including Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Notices (ECNs).
• Experience with sheet metal design and related manufacturing processes.
• Experience with piping design and related manufacturing processes.
• Experience working with Top Level Assemblies and managing large assemblies in a CAD environment.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing fabrication and assembly methods, especially basic metal fabrication and its impact on design.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to translate functional requirements into robust mechanical designs.
• Strong problem-solving and advanced analytical skills applied to mechanical design challenges.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration across engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and strong follow-up and follow-through skills to ensure completion of tasks and design deliverables.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Technology, or a related technical discipline, with 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, is preferred.
• Experience in an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environment, including customization of standard products to meet specific customer requirements.
• Exposure to electro-mechanical control systems and components, including basic understanding of electrical components, subassemblies, and their functions.
• Experience designing for or supporting industrial products such as large HVAC or chiller systems.
• Demonstrated creativity in product design and prior experience with product development activities.
• Ability to discuss and present design work, including past projects and examples of resolving design issues (such as redesigning components that initially failed).
• Experience participating in onsite design assessments or tests, including demonstrating CREO skills through example models or drawings.
• Interest in and willingness to learn about data center cooling and the broader impact of data center business on product design.

Work Environment

The role is based in a large manufacturing center that includes on-site test laboratories and an engineering research and development environment. The facility designs and produces custom and commercial HVAC units and large chiller products that are shipped internationally, offering exposure to substantial industrial-scale equipment and systems. Design Engineers perform their own drafting and documentation and are part of a dedicated design group that supports all engineering functions, including custom, large, medium, and small product engineering teams, as well as new product development and sustaining engineering. There are multiple test labs on site, providing direct access to physical testing and validation activities. The work environment is fast-paced and collaborative, with opportunities to participate in engineering meetings, gain increasing responsibility over time, and work on high-impact data center cooling projects considered a generational opportunity in the industry.

This is a Permanent position based out of Charlotte, NC.

The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $105000.00/yr.

Benefits Employees are eligible for benefits, including: Health Care Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; Wellness incentives Retirement Benefits Time off and Leave: Paid vacation days, up to 15 days; paid sick days, up to 5 days; paid personal leave, up to 5 days; paid holidays, up to 13 days; birth and adoption leave; parental leave; family and medical leave; bereavement leave; jury duty leave; military leave; purchased vacation Disability: Short-term and long-term disability Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Health Savings Account; Health Care Spending Account; Dependent Care Spending Account Tuition Assistance

This is a fully onsite position in Charlotte,NC.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.