R&D Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

R & D Engineer

Indianapolis, IN - Full Time - Hybrid

Productive Resources ( is seeking a candidate to be part of our engineering team for our customer's facility in Indianapolis, IN. As a member of our team, the selected candidate will be a highly motivated, hands-on R&D Engineer to joining small, fast-moving motorsports development team focused on the design, development, testing, and fabrication of high-performance racing equipment. The successful candidate will be involved throughout the entire product development process—from benchmarking and 3D scanning, to CAD and reverse engineering, fabrication, testing, and design refinement. Because the team is small, this individual will take significant ownership of projects and must be comfortable working independently with minimal support. The ideal candidate is a go-getter and hands-on problem solver who can move seamlessly between SolidWorks, the shop floor, the test environment, and the racetrack.

This is a full-time position that is indefinite in duration with the opportunity of professional growth, and additional opportunities within our organization. 

Duties:

• Lead mechanical design and product development activities for racing helmet and motorsports applications.
• Benchmark existing racing helmets and other competitive products using 3D scanning, reverse engineering, and CAD modeling to understand design, geometry, and performance characteristics.
• Develop complex helmet geometries and compound surfaces using SolidWorks.
• Create and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and product documentation.
• Provide engineering direction and support to drafting resources.
• Take ownership of fabrication activities and build prototypes, fixtures, test articles, and product components as required.
• Collaborate with the development team to move designs from initial concept through prototype, testing, refinement, and final implementation.
• Support aerodynamic development by evaluating designs with an understanding of drag, airflow, and aerodynamic performance in racing environments.
• Develop test plans and design experiments to evaluate product performance and material/geometry selections.
• Support both laboratory and field testing, including aerodynamic testing and impact testing.
• Analyze test results and use findings to drive design improvements and product development decisions.
• Perform or support PEW analysis for material selection and component geometries.
• Collaborate with other engineering resources on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), FEA, and other engineering analysis as appropriate.
• Work closely with fabrication and testing activities to quickly iterate designs based on real-world performance.
• Maintain engineering documentation, test results, CAD data, and development records.
• Identify opportunities to improve product performance, manufacturability, durability, and safety.
• Take ownership of projects and drive them forward with limited day-to-day supervision.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated engineering capability through professional experience, hands-on development, motorsports experience, or equivalent technical background.
• Strong proficiency with SolidWorks, particularly complex surface modeling and compound-curved geometry.
• Experience with mechanical design and product development.
• Ability to interpret engineering concepts and translate them into practical, manufacturable designs.
• Hands-on fabrication and prototyping experience.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in a small-team environment with minimal support.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple development activities simultaneously.
• Willingness to spend significant time outside of the office performing fabrication, testing, and hands-on development work.

Why work for Productive Resources? 

Productive Resources is a full-service engineering firm with over two decades of experience serving leading global clients. Our expertise is project-based product development and manufacturing engineering support. Our primary focus industries are off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, defense, mining, recreational, industrial, and specialty machines.

We lead with our reputation for quality, teamwork, and innovative solutions. We invest in our people, providing resources and opportunities for ongoing development. Our workplace fosters innovation, prioritizes the well-being of our team, and encourages creativity. Our diverse experience and client base will challenge your technical skills and provide greater opportunities for growth.

We Offer Competitive Benefits:

• Group Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance available
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Accident Insurance available
• Long-Term Disability
• Short-term Disability
• Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
• Flexible Spending Plans for Medical Expenses and Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Programs available
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Health Care Support Program complimentary health advocacy program provides 24/7 assistance.
• Adoption Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Caregiver Support Programs
• Financial Wellbeing Support
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Training and Development

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly