Entry Level Design Engineer

Job Description

About the Role

Pinnacle Partners is recruiting for an Entry Level Design Engineer in Columbus, IN. This is a contract engineering opportunity focused on developing custom design solutions for material handling equipment. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline, internship or co-op experience, and hands-on 2D and 3D CAD experience. In this role, you will work directly with dealerships to understand their customization requests, develop 3D models, 2D drawings, and parts lists, and support projects from initial design through production and final continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review and respond to custom design requests submitted by dealerships.
• Communicate directly with dealerships to understand customer requirements and determine appropriate design solutions.
• Develop customized engineering solutions for existing material handling equipment and forklift models.
• Build 3D models, 2D drawings, and parts lists for Toyota Special Design Requests (TSDRs).
• Translate dealership requests into practical, manufacturable engineering designs.
• Request and evaluate supplier quotes as part of the design and quoting process.
• Work with suppliers as needed to support custom design and quoting activities.
• Communicate primarily through email, with some phone communication, to clarify project requirements.
• Manage assigned design projects within established timelines.
• Support projects from initial concept and design through production and final Kaizen/continuous improvement activities.
• Work with multiple internal departments to move designs through the production process.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and other internal teams to ensure designs are manufacturable.
• Troubleshoot design or production issues that arise while customized products are being built.
• Make design adjustments and modifications when issues are identified during production.
• Support the transition of designs from engineering into manufacturing.
• Maintain accuracy and attention to detail throughout the design and quoting process.
• Ensure designs meet project requirements, quality expectations, and applicable engineering standards.
• Work on a variety of customization requests, such as modifying lift configurations, adding air conditioning to a lift, changing cage dimensions, or adjusting fork positioning and sizing.
• Manage multiple types of projects in a flexible and changing engineering environment.
• Spend approximately two months focused primarily on design work before rotating into approximately one month of quoting activities.
• Support projects that typically progress from initial concept/design to production within approximately 60 days.
• Learn and utilize CAD and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools to complete assigned projects.
• Work independently while seeking assistance and collaborating with team members when needed.
• Participate in continuous improvement and Kaizen activities.
• Maintain strong communication with internal teams throughout the design and production process.
• Take ownership of assigned projects and ensure designs are completed accurately and on schedule.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Internship, co-op, or comparable engineering experience.
• Previous experience designing assemblies, components, or similar engineering projects through school, internship, co-op, or professional experience.
• 2D and 3D CAD design experience.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Ability to communicate directly with customers or customer representatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy with numbers.
• Ability to understand customer requirements and translate them into practical design solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Engineering, Manufacturing, Suppliers, and other internal departments.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to learn new engineering software and processes independently.
• Ability to work in a flexible, fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Self-starter with the ability to independently manage assigned projects.
• Ability to work on the manufacturing floor as needed to support designs and troubleshoot production issues.
• Ability to relocate to or reliably commute to Columbus, IN.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday, approximately 6:30 AM-3:15 PM.
• Willingness to work optional Saturday overtime when available.

Preferred:

• CATIA experience.
• SmarTeam or other PLM software experience.
• Experience with cost reduction initiatives.
• Manufacturing internship or co-op experience.
• Experience designing custom manufacturing solutions.
• Experience working with material handling equipment or industrial equipment.
• Experience working directly with manufacturing teams.
• Experience troubleshooting engineering issues during production.
• Experience with continuous improvement or Kaizen initiatives.
• Ability to quickly learn CATIA and other company-specific engineering systems.
• Experience communicating with suppliers and obtaining engineering or manufacturing quotes.
• Experience working in a collaborative engineering environment.
• Experience taking designs from concept through manufacturing.
• Experience with customized or special-order products.
• Experience working with 3D CAD assemblies and detailed 2D manufacturing drawings.

Benefits Overview:

• $30-$40/hour base pay depending on experience and qualifications.
• Contract position expected to last approximately 1-2 years, with potential opportunity for direct hire.
• Monday-Friday schedule, approximately 6:30 AM-3:15 PM.
• Optional Saturday overtime opportunities.
• One-month mentorship and onboarding program for new engineers.
• Significant initial training and collaboration with experienced design checkers.
• CATIA workbook and training materials provided.

Explore More Engineering Opportunities

This role falls within our Engineering/Manufacturing division , where we specialize in placing professionals in areas such as:

• Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
• Manufacturing/Process Engineering
• Controls Engineering
• Project Engineering
• Technical Sales
• Operations / Plant Engineering

Explore additional Engineering roles and learn more about how we support Engineering professionals:

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