Design & Development Engineer

Design & Development Engineer
Concord, NC (Onsite)

Position Summary
Our client is seeking a Mechanical Design & Development Engineer to join its growing engineering team in the greater Charlotte area.

This role is focused on the development of new mechanical products and systems, taking ideas from early-stage concepts through detailed design, prototyping, testing, validation, and implementation.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on mechanical engineer who enjoys working through open-ended design challenges and turning conceptual ideas into functional, real-world products. This person will be involved throughout the development process, from initial design and analysis through prototype evaluation and final design refinement.

The position offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging products where performance, weight, structural integrity, safety, reliability, and durability are important design considerations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new mechanical products, systems, components, and assemblies from conceptual ideas through implementation.
• Translate functional requirements and customer needs into practical mechanical design solutions.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and manufacturing documentation.
• Develop and evaluate design concepts with consideration for performance, weight, structural integrity, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
• Design and evaluate lightweight mechanical structures and understand load paths, structural behavior, and potential failure points.
• Use engineering analysis and FEA tools to evaluate designs and support engineering decisions.
• Develop and support prototype builds to evaluate new concepts and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Plan and conduct testing to validate product performance, identify design weaknesses, and guide design refinement.
• Analyze test results and make design modifications based on engineering data and observed product performance.
• Work with internal engineering teams, project managers, suppliers, and other technical stakeholders throughout the development process.
• Communicate with customers and technical personnel to understand requirements, resolve product issues, and provide engineering support.
• Support testing, documentation, and technical requirements associated with customer programs.
• Ensure designs meet applicable functional, safety, reliability, and performance requirements.
• Support engineering changes and maintain accurate models, drawings, and technical documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and support to less-experienced engineers as needed.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of mechanical design, product development, or related engineering experience.
• Experience developing mechanically complex products in a technically demanding environment where structural performance, weight, reliability, and durability are key design considerations.
• Strong proficiency with NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or a comparable 3D CAD platform.
• Experience developing mechanical products from concept through detailed design, prototype, testing, and implementation.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, tolerances, and design for manufacturability.
• Experience with lightweight structures, structural design, and load-path analysis.
• Experience with ANSYS or another FEA/structural-analysis platform.
• Ability to create production-ready 3D models, assemblies, drawings, and supporting engineering documentation.
• Strong analytical and mechanical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced engineering environment with changing technical requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with engineers, customers, and other technical stakeholders.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with prototype development, physical testing, and design validation.
• Experience with structural analysis and lightweight product design.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001:2015 or similar quality-management systems.
• Experience communicating with customers or external technical organizations regarding testing, documentation, or technical requirements.
• Experience mentoring or providing technical guidance to junior engineers.
• Familiarity with fabricated structures, welded assemblies, machined components, or other mechanically intensive products.