Design Engineer

Who We Are:

Lippert is a leading, global manufacturer and supplier of highly engineered products and customized solutions, dedicated to shaping, growing and bettering the RV, marine, automotive, commercial vehicle and building products industries. We combine our strategic manufacturing capabilities with the power of our winning team culture to deliver unrivaled customer service, award-winning innovation, and premium products to all of our customers.

Why We are Different:

At Lippert, Everyone Matters. This is not just a tagline or empty promise; it is who we are. We have intentionally created a culture that values and celebrates our team members' unique and varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to give our team members a deeper sense of purpose at work, and we continue to build a better work environment by aligning our cultural and business strategies with the needs of our team members.

What You will Get:

1. A unique, inclusive and supportive company culture.
2. Comprehensive benefit offerings including medical, dental, vision, 401k with employer match, vacation, and more!
3. Fair and competitive compensation.
4. Career development and mentoring and opportunities to grow.
5. Holiday, personal and vacation days.

Summary/Objective

The Design Engineer is responsible for solving day-to-day design challenges of existing products as well as developing new products from concept through production. They will support existing production products through VAVE and Continuous Improvement efforts as well as creation of new derivative systems. The design engineer is also responsible for researching new product opportunities, analyzing customer design proposals, defining specifications, benchmarking competitor products, and reviewing warranty data to determine feasibility of new product designs or applications.

Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Design and/or modify electromechanical/mechanical products or systems such as rack and pinion drive systems, linear motion control, water management systems, load distribution, etc. to fit application requirements
2. Detail component and assembly designs/models and create engineering prints with complete dimensions and specifications
3. Create and maintain DFMEA as needed
4. Write design validation plans and testing procedures; Assist testing personnel in specifying equipment, methods and procedures for testing mechanical products or systems
5. Create conceptual and prototype designs, images, and physical samples
6. Work with manufacturing engineering and suppliers to ensure the most efficient methods of manufacturing and assembly are developed and meet appropriate specifications.
7. Track and communicate design changes to a cross-functional team
8. Provide technical details for engineering documents including test reports, product specifications, manuals, etc.
9. Support manufacturing/assembly areas through first runs of products
10. Evaluate field installations/use and translate that information into technical design goals and improvements
11. Assist in establishing and/or upgrading internal engineering standards and practices
12. Demonstrate a strong commitment to Lippert's safety and personnel policies including core values
13. Ensure designs comply with applicable standards, codes, and regulations

Essential Functions:

1. Design, development, and evaluation of major new products as well as design improvement and cost reduction efforts on existing products having significant impact on the company's operations.
2. Works in multidisciplinary teams to complete projects and ensure a smooth transition of the product into production including parameters for product validation.
3. Project design and development cost estimation throughout the process.
4. Provides design concept, development timetables and anticipated costs for team review and approval.
5. Create test plan and complete validation testing with the Lab technicians to ensure product meets customer, markets regulatory requirements.
6. Preparation of drawings and production of prototypes meeting the standards set by sound engineering principles, project goals and company needs.
7. Establishes audits and reviews test plan necessary to produce product results in line with goals.

Other Key Responsibilities:

1. Collaborates with customer and cross functional team regarding design.
2. Works with Manufacturing Engineering and Suppliers to assure most efficient methods of manufacture (DFM) and assembly (DFA) are developed to meet appropriate specifications.
3. Finalizes all engineering documentation necessary for product release.
4. Assists manufacturing with implementation into production including suggested parameters for validation of production units
5. Assist in establishing and/or upgrading internal engineering standards and practices. May assist in planning allocation of resources.

Working Conditions:

• Primarily working indoors, office environment.
• May sit for several hours at a time.
• Prolonged exposure to computer screens.
• Repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers, and copiers.
• Travel to customer or other Lippert facilities may be required
• Floor time at customers or other Lippert facilities may be required which may include walking, kneeling, crouching, sitting, standing

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in engineering or a similar technical field required

2. 3-7+ years of relevant work experience required

3. 3D CAD software proficiency required, SolidWorks experience preferred

4. Familiarity with RV products and applications preferred

5. Excellent communication skills required

Competencies:

1. Solid mechanical engineering proficiency; can design electromechanical systems and sub-components.
2. Proficient in parametric modeling; experience completing FEA of assemblies
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
4. Understanding and use of mathematical concepts relating to mechanical drive systems, basic electronics and static/dynamic loading analysis.
5. Analysis of highly complex engineering issues and problems, drawing valid conclusions based on robust data collection and fact-based review.
6. Understanding of materials, mechanical properties and manufacturing processes such that initial concept designs are feasible and meet agreed upon design requirements
7. DFM/DFA
8. Strong problem-solving skills with a high level of creativity
9. Strong working knowledge of drawing detailing and GD&T practices
10. Capable of performing moderately complex tolerance stack-ups and evaluating first article inspection reports to ensure a robust design
11. Use of D/PFMEA and other risk analysis tools
12. Able to execute multiple projects in parallel while balancing competing resources and needs. Gives attention to detail and quality.
13. Comfortable working in a team environment and effective at brainstorming/concepting individually and in a group

Supervisory Responsibility:

This role does not have any supervisory responsibilities upon hiring.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to walk, sit, stand, bend, lift, and move continually during working hours. Is subject to lifting over 25 pounds. This position can involve sitting for various periods of time, and also requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping and crouching throughout the day. The Team Member must frequently lift and/or move items over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position, and the expected work hours are 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday; weekend and overnight work could also become necessary.

Travel:

Travel will be minimal and would be primarily local during the business day.

Preferred Education and Experience:

1. Manufacturing/industry experience.
2. Experience working with multiple discipline projects
3. Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office
4. Organizational skills, communication proficiency, initiative, thoroughness, and time management

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Pay Group : AAP/EEO Statement

Lippert provides equal employment opportunity to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, citizen status, protected veteran status, military service, marital status or any other legally protected category as established by federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, job assignment, compensation, training, promotion, discipline, transfer, leave-of-absence, access to benefits, layoff, recall, termination and other personnel matters. All employment and personnel-related decisions are based solely upon legitimate, job-related factors, such as skill, ability, past performance, and length of service with Lippert.

Lippert's strong commitment to equal employment opportunity requires a commitment by each individual team member. Compliance with the letter and spirit of this policy is required of all team members. Violations of this policy should be immediately reported to your leader or to any member of leadership. Team members who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Lippert provides equal employment opportunity to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, citizen status, protected veteran status, military service, marital status or any other legally protected category as established by federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, job assignment, compensation, training, promotion, discipline, transfer, leave-of-absence, access to benefits, layoff, recall, termination and other personnel matters. All employment and personnel-related decisions are based solely upon legitimate, job-related factors, such as skill, ability, past performance, and length of service with Lippert.

Lippert's strong commitment to equal employment opportunity requires a commitment by each individual team member. Compliance with the letter and spirit of this policy is required of all team members. Violations of this policy should be immediately reported to your leader or to any member of leadership. Team members who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Know Your Rights