Lead Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Lead Design Engineer
Location: Denver, CO
Type: Direct Hire

Are you a hands-on engineering leader who thrives on taking products from concept through commercialization? Our client, an established commercial equipment manufacturer, is seeking an experienced Lead Design Engineer to provide technical leadership across multiple product lines. This is a role for someone who wants to stay close to the design work, spearhead complex projects, solve hard engineering problems, and mentor the next generation of engineering talent. It is a technical leadership seat, not a step away from the bench.

Company Profile
Our client is an established manufacturer serving commercial customers across a range of industries, including healthcare, hospitality, education, food service, convenience stores, restaurants, and workplace environments. The company has built a longstanding reputation for high-quality products through innovative engineering, efficient manufacturing, and a strong focus on reliability and continuous improvement. The engineering team partners closely with manufacturing, operations, procurement, product management, and outside vendors in a collaborative, technology-driven environment.

The Role
As Lead Design Engineer, you will set the technical and strategic direction for product design across multiple product lines. You will lead complex engineering programs from concept through commercialization, establish design standards and best practices, and serve as a technical subject matter expert and mentor, all while staying actively involved in mechanical design, testing, and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead mechanical design for new products and enhancements to existing product lines
• Define design architecture, engineering standards, and best practices
• Create and oversee CAD models, layouts, assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings
• Lead multiple concurrent projects from concept through production
• Develop and validate test methods and product qualification procedures
• Provide technical expertise in refrigeration, thermodynamics, sheet metal design, and electro-mechanical system integration
• Lead design reviews and stage-gate processes
• Partner with Product Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement, Operations, and external vendors
• Translate business objectives into actionable engineering deliverables
• Identify and resolve technical and cross-functional challenges that could affect project timelines
• Lead structured problem-solving using DFMEA, 8D, root-cause analysis, and related methodologies
• Drive cost-reduction, reliability improvement, and sustaining engineering initiatives
• Evaluate and introduce new design tools, technologies, materials, and engineering methods
• Mentor senior and junior engineers in technical development, project execution, and professional growth
• Participate in engineering hiring, onboarding, and development

Background Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline required
• 7+ years of mechanical design engineering experience preferred
• Demonstrated leadership of complex product development programs, taking engineered products from concept through production and commercialization
• Deep understanding of thermodynamics, refrigeration science, and electro-mechanical system design
• Strong proficiency with CAD software; expert-level SolidWorks strongly preferred
• Experience with PDM or product lifecycle management systems
• Strong understanding of sheet metal design and design-for-manufacturability principles
• Experience with FEA, DFMEA, DFM, 8D, root-cause analysis, simulation, and testing tools
• Background in manufacturing or production environments strongly preferred
• Experience in refrigeration, HVAC, commercial foodservice equipment, appliances, cooling systems, or similar engineered equipment is highly desirable
• Familiarity with regulatory standards such as UL, CE, NSF, or similar product requirements
• Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving abilities
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously
• Professional Engineering license or similar certification is a plus
• Ability to travel occasionally for project, vendor, or site needs

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual profit-sharing bonus
• Medical, dental, and other health insurance benefits
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• The opportunity to lead high-impact product development and shape engineering direction
• A collaborative engineering and manufacturing environment