Product Design Engineer

Legacy Manufacturing seeks a Product Design Engineer to lead the development of innovative products from concept through production. The role focuses on generating 3-D CAD models and drawings, maintaining comprehensive engineering documentation, and ensuring ongoing product compliance, with collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, QA, and supplier networks. This onsite opportunity is based in Marion, Iowa, and requires a bachelor’s degree with at least five years of relevant experience.

Overview

The Product Design Engineer will support the Product Development Department in designing, developing, sourcing, and improving products from concept through production. Core responsibilities include producing 3-D CAD models and engineering drawings, maintaining engineering documentation, and upholding product compliance throughout the lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Guide the complete design lifecycle from initial concept through detailed design, prototyping, validation, and product launch.
• Develop 3-D CAD models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.
• Translate sales and marketing requirements into measurable product specifications.
• Apply engineering principles such as tolerance analysis, finite element analysis, DFM/DFA, and FMEA to create cost-effective designs that meet specifications.
• Verify that sourced components meet internal specifications.
• Develop procedures for testing of products and components.
• Conduct tests and document results.
• Investigate product failures to determine root cause.
• Collaborate with domestic and international factories, suppliers, and operations to prepare products for manufacturing.
• Provide engineering documentation and testing support to other departments as needed.
• Partner with marketing, sales, production, and quality assurance to align on requirements.
• Perform patent searches, review existing patents, and identify opportunities for new filings.
• Support continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives on existing product lines.
• Serve as the technical liaison with third-party test laboratories and certification bodies.
• Act as the compliance point of contact within Engineering, coordinating with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Provide guidance on compliance requirements and best practices.
• Evaluate and approve supplier compliance documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in product development and mechanical design engineering, preferably for industrial or consumer products.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM.
• Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping, techniques, and materials.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities with a creative approach to challenges.
• Experience collaborating with international and domestic factories and suppliers.
• Experience creating and following engineering procedures, reports, Declarations of Conformity, and related documentation.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 document control and change management.
• Familiarity with product safety and regulatory standards (UL, ANSI, ASTM, CSA, CE, PFAS, RoHS, REACH, Prop 65) preferred.
• Ability to interpret standards and directives and translate them into practical design requirements.
• Proficient in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills for managing technical documents and meticulous attention to detail.
• Effective in cross-functional team environments.
• Project management experience is a plus.
• Self-motivated and proactive.

Technologies

• SolidWorks
• SolidWorks PDM
• MS Office

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Work Location

Marion, IA (onsite) – In person