Automotive Plastics Design Engineer

Summary/Objective:

This position will use CAD equipment as a tool to design products for the auto industry including doing layouts, detail drawings, assembly drawings, sketches & diagrams. The ideal candidate will have 2+ years of experience designing plastic injection molded parts and a solid understanding of plastic materials and properties. In addition, this position will work closely with our electrical and quality groups to design housings for electrical components utilized in both interior and exterior applications. The candidate needs a solid understanding of design & drafting techniques and familiarity with engineering terminology and manufacturing processes. Candidate must also have prior experience working directly with or for OE Automotive companies, with a working knowledge of OE quality and engineering systems. The Design Engineer will report directly to the Director of Engineering for New Product Development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Develop designs using computer assisted design/drafting equipment and software (Inventor)
• Create and revise production drawings (detail and assembly drawings)
• Make final sketch of proposed drawing, checking dimension of parts, materials to be used, relation of one part to another, and relation of various parts to whole structures or project
• Sketch rough layout of machine and compute angles, weights, surface areas, dimensions, radii, clearances, tolerances, leverages, and location of holes
• Utilize knowledge of various machines, engineering practices, mathematics, building materials, and other physical sciences to complete drawings
• Working knowledge of GD&T principles and measurement systems
• Draft detailed multi-view drawings of machine and products
• Create DXF files with layers as used in writing CNC programs
• Draw finished designs from sketches
• Update drafting and engineering standards
• Responsible for setting up and maintaining an organized file system for production drawings
• Communicate with Tooling, QA, Engineering, and Manufacturing regarding new and revised prints
• Determine best design approach with regards to economic, manufacturing, function and durability considerations
• Analyze blue prints, specifications, proposals and other documentation to prepare time, cost and labor estimates for products, projects or services proposed and current customers
• Review and assess factors that affect decisions, including the identification and selection of special characteristics, such as manufacturing, economics, ease of assembly (DFMA) serviceability, material selection, fits, tolerances (GD&T), tolerance stack up analysis, product use and cost
• Assist in creating and drafting building materials layout
• Perform other duties as assigned

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.

Working Conditions:

• Primarily working indoors, office environment.
• Normal office work setting with limited work in the plant during mock installations

Competencies:

• Customer Focus
• Decision Quality
• Results, Action Oriented
• Displaying Technical Expertise
• Time Management

Requirements:

• Work Experience: 3 years of design and or computer aided drafting within the automotive industry
• 3 years designing plastic injection molded parts
• 3 years of demonstrated understanding plastic materials and physical properties for a range of automotive applications
• 3 years of demonstrated understanding of injection mold tooling design
• 3 years of demonstrated experience within PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, and GD&T
• 1 year minimum working with OE Automotive companies and systems.
• Education: Master's Degree in Engineering & Bachelor's Degree in Engineering industry
• Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suites as well as Design Engineering software such as Inventor and Solidworks; Prior experience within Catia and SAP
• Organization Skills: Ability to maintain clean and organized work space; ability to organize and coordinate multiple projects
• Cross-functional skills: Ability to work and handle multiple job assignments; ability to work with and communicate with other departments including Tooling, QA, Engineering and Manufacturing
• Communication Skills: Ability to communicate within a team setting; ability to maintain a professional & pleasant demeanor
• Physical, Mental and Visual Skills: Ability to analyze information to solve complex problems; ability to maintain attention to detail and accuracy; ability to sit/stand for long periods daily; position requires some lifting when doing mock installations on vehicles

Supervisory Responsibility:

This role does not have any supervisory responsibility upon hiring.

Physical Demands

• May sit for several hours at a time.
• Prolonged exposure to computer screens.
• Repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers, and copiers.
• When on the manufacturing floor, assist in prototype development, as needed.
• Conduct design reviews in a manufacturing environment around physical prototypes

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time salary position, and hours/days of work are decided by production schedules and your reporting manager.

Travel:

No travel anticipated for this role.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Computer Skills: Inventor CAD software, AutoCAD version 2000 or higher

Who We Are

We are the leading supplier of components to the recreational vehicle and Marine industries, as well as adjacent industries including bus, cargo and equestrian trailer, and heavy truck. With over 65 facilities located throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, our more than 9,000 team members work together to bring innovative product solutions to market every day.

Why We are Different:

At Lippert Components, Everyone Matters. We are striving to make lives better through meaningful relationships with our co-workers, our customers, and our communities. LCI team members feel 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 many team members. We measure success by how we touch the lives of people inside and outside our walls.

What You will Get:

1. A company culture where everyone matters
2. Healthcare + Dental + Vision + 401k with Employer match
3. Career development and mentoring
4. Tuition Reimbursement
5. Annual flu immunization
6. Holiday, personal and vacation days
7. Local and national discounts
8. Wellness offerings

Work Authorization/Security Clearance:

Must be able to pass EVerify.

AAP/EEO Statement:
LCI provides equal employment opportunity to all Team Members and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected category.

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 Team Member for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.