Manufacturing Design Engineer - Tooling & Fabrication
Goodfield, IL - Full Time
Productive Resources (www.productiveresources.com) is seeking a candidate to be part of our engineering team at our customer's facility in Goodfield, IL. As a member of our team, the selected candidate will be a hands-on Manufacturing Design Engineer responsible for tooling design, welding and assembly operations, manufacturing process improvements, and special engineering projects. This role will focus on designing and improving manufacturing tools, fixtures, and equipment; identifying and resolving welding-related quality concerns; supporting new product introductions; and optimizing production processes and layouts. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mechanical design, tooling development, welding, and fabrication, with the ability to take projects from initial concept and CAD design through fabrication, implementation, and validation. The successful candidate will work closely with engineering, production, welding, and assembly teams and must be comfortable balancing engineering design and project coordination with hands-on support in a manufacturing environment.
This is a full-time position with an initial 6-month contract duration and the potential for indefinite extension, offering opportunities for professional growth and additional opportunities within our organization.
Duties:
- Design, develop, and modify manufacturing tools, fixtures, jigs, and specialized production equipment to support fabrication, welding, and assembly operations.
- Create 3D CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) for tooling and equipment designs.
- Develop custom material handling and transport carts for moving large components throughout the manufacturing facility.
- Evaluate existing tooling and fixtures to identify opportunities for improved functionality, durability, safety, and production efficiency.
- Collaborate with shop fabricators to build, test, troubleshoot, and validate newly designed tools and equipment.
- Support tooling implementation, certification, and continuous improvement activities.
- Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to ensure tooling designs are practical, cost-effective, and suitable for production environments.
- Investigate and resolve welding-related quality concerns by identifying root causes involving tooling, weld processes, product design, equipment, and manufacturing practices.
- Lead structured problem-solving efforts to track, contain, and eliminate recurring production issues.
- Participate in new product design reviews with a focus on robust weld tooling strategies and manufacturing readiness.
- Evaluate weld fixtures, tooling, weld positioners, and turners to improve mixed-model manufacturing flexibility and production efficiency.
- Develop and implement improvements to existing weld tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing equipment to increase quality, safety, and throughput.
- Review and improve existing welding Standard Work Instructions (SWIs), developing new documentation and procedures as needed.
- Coordinate component part tracking and material availability for new tooling certifications, working with engineering, purchasing, and production teams to resolve shortages and support material movement.
- Assist in developing and delivering training for welders and robot programmers on new processes, tooling, and best practices while reinforcing existing standards.
- Support assembly operations by reviewing assembly fixtures, tooling, plant layouts, and material flow to improve ergonomics and productivity.
- Evaluate welding and assembly layouts to optimize manufacturing space, production flow, and flexibility for changing model mixes.
- Review standard labor hours, employee allocation, and production requirements to develop manufacturing layout and workforce changeover strategies.
- Assist with manufacturing change management planning and implementation.
- Identify opportunities to improve shop floor efficiency, material handling, and overall manufacturing performance.
- Assist with project planning and coordination through project management software, including developing dashboards, task lists, automated workflows, and project tracking systems.
- Track project milestones, action items, and deliverables while working with accountable team members to address delays and elevate potential risks.
- Prepare weekly project status updates and executive summary reports for management.
- Collaborate with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and operations teams to implement sustainable process improvements.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Experience designing manufacturing tooling, weld fixtures, jigs, material handling equipment, or production equipment.
- Proficiency with 3D CAD software and the ability to create detailed engineering drawings and models.
- Strong knowledge of welding processes, fabrication techniques, assembly, and manufacturing operations.
- Experience with tooling design, fixture development, and hands-on manufacturing support.
- Experience performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions for quality issues.
- Understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
- Experience supporting production in a high-volume or heavy manufacturing environment.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld prints, GD&T, CAD models, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
- Experience with project management, project tracking, and coordinating cross-functional activities.
- Strong organizational, analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
- Ability to work directly with shop personnel, fabricators, engineers, and management to develop and implement solutions.
Preferred:
- Experience with robotic welding, weld programming, weld positioners, and automated manufacturing systems.
- Familiarity with MRP systems, material tracking, and inventory coordination.
- Experience with Monday.com or similar project management software.
- Experience designing custom tooling, fixtures, transport carts, and material handling equipment.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and manufacturing layout optimization.
- Experience developing Standard Work Instructions (SWIs), manufacturing documentation, and training materials.
- Forklift experience or willingness to obtain forklift training, as needed.
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
