Industrial Design Engineer

Kreate is a family-owned plastic injection molding company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, with operations across five states. We create consumer goods sold by major retailers—products that improve everyday experiences for the people who use them. What makes Kreate different is how we think. We’re on a mission to reimagine familiar product categories and turn “same old” into “new and improved.” That mindset drives everything we do—from product development and manufacturing to how we invest in our people and run our operations. Innovation at Kreate isn’t limited to engineering or design teams. It shows up on the plant floor, in continuous improvement efforts, in how we adopt new technologies, and in how we support our teams. We’re always evolving—our processes, our tools, and our capabilities—because we believe the best ideas can come from anywhere. As a family-owned company, we take a long-term approach to growth. We value accountability, collaboration, and people who take pride in their work. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to make an impact, learn new skills, and help shape how we build products and run our business. If you’re looking for a place where innovation is expected, initiative is encouraged, and your work truly matters, we’d love to Kreate the future together. We are seeking a technically proficient and innovative Industrial Design Engineer specializing in 3D CAD development, mechanical product design, and plastic injection molding. The ideal candidate possesses advanced SolidWorks capabilities, a strong understanding of engineering design principles, and the ability to integrate industrial design aesthetics, brand identity, and manufacturing requirements into commercially viable consumer products. This position is responsible for developing and engineering products from initial concept through production-ready design, with an emphasis on dimensional accuracy, structural performance, material optimization, tooling feasibility, and manufacturing efficiency. Key Responsibilities Develop detailed parametric 3D CAD models, complex surface geometries, multi-component assemblies, photorealistic renderings, and production engineering drawings using SolidWorks. Engineer consumer products to meet defined functional, structural, dimensional, ergonomic, and aesthetic requirements. Reverse engineer existing products using physical measurements, 3D scanning, and CAD reconstruction to evaluate design improvements and product differentiation. Optimize component geometry, mechanical interfaces, assembly methods, and material utilization to improve product performance and manufacturing cost. Injection Molding & Design for Manufacturing Apply advanced design-for-manufacturing (DFM) principles to develop injection-molded plastic components optimized for tooling and high-volume production. Engineer part geometries incorporating appropriate wall thickness, draft angles, rib-to-wall ratios, bosses, snap fits, parting lines, undercuts, and ejection requirements. Evaluate thermoplastic material properties, shrinkage characteristics, warpage, dimensional stability, and structural performance during product development. Collaborate with tooling and manufacturing engineering teams to resolve moldability concerns, optimize tooling configurations, and validate production-ready designs. Develop technically feasible product designs that integrate functional engineering requirements with industrial design aesthetics and brand-specific design language. Define product architecture, component interfaces, surface transitions, textures, color schemes, and material finishes to achieve cohesive product differentiation. Engineer modular product systems and coordinated product families with consideration for interchangeability, compatibility, and scalable design architecture. Generate high-quality CAD visualizations, photorealistic renderings, and technical presentations to communicate product design intent. Prototyping & Product Validation Prepare CAD models and technical documentation for additive manufacturing, functional prototyping, and engineering validation. Evaluate prototypes for dimensional accuracy, fit, form, function, assembly compatibility, and mechanical performance. Implement iterative design modifications based on prototype evaluations, engineering analysis, and manufacturing feedback. Support tooling development, first-article inspections, dimensional validation, and design revisions through production release. Required Qualifications Advanced SolidWorks proficiency, including parametric part modeling, complex surfacing, assembly modeling, configurations, and detailed engineering drawings. Demonstrated experience engineering injection-molded plastic consumer products. Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance stack-ups, and component interfaces. Technical knowledge of thermoplastic materials, injection molding processes, tooling constraints, and DFM methodologies. Ability to integrate industrial design principles, product aesthetics, and brand identity into mechanically functional designs. Experience developing detailed, manufacturable CAD models from conceptual product requirements. Strong analytical problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate across engineering, tooling, manufacturing, and product development teams. Preferred Qualifications Experience designing high-volume injection-molded consumer products, including storage, organization, household, hardware, or outdoor products. Advanced SolidWorks surfacing, sheet metal, simulation, and design validation capabilities. Proficiency in SolidWorks Visualize or comparable photorealistic rendering software. Experience with 3D scanning, reverse engineering, and additive manufacturing technologies. Familiarity with injection mold construction, mold flow analysis, tooling validation, and manufacturing cost optimization. Experience developing modular product architectures, branded product ecosystems, and multi-component assemblies. Ability to provide a technical design portfolio demonstrating advanced SolidWorks modeling, complex part and surface geometry, injection molding DFM, mechanical product development, industrial design execution, and photorealistic product visualization. Company Details: Location: Kreate, 1074 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236 This position will report to the Chief Innovation Officer Kreate is an equal opportunity employer. The Statements used herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee in this position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company. #J-18808-Ljbffr