Design Engineer

Overview

A long-established manufacturing and forging operation in the Chicago area is seeking a Design Engineer to support new product development, tooling design, and cost estimation activities. This role is ideal for an engineer with a background in Solid Works, forging or metalworking environments, and hands-on exposure to press layout, automation, or equipment design.

• Design and model forged components, tools, and related production equipment using Solid Works
• Develop and review designs for manufacturability, tooling feasibility, and production flow
• Perform cost estimating for new parts, tooling, and production processes
• Support press layout activities, including capacity planning, tooling fit-up, and automation considerations
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and sales teams to assess design requirements and technical feasibility
• Maintain documentation, drawings, specifications, and BOMs for new and existing projects
• Participate in process improvement efforts related to forging, automation, and equipment optimization
• Assist in vendor and customer interactions as needed for quotes, designs, or technical support

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Solid Works proficiency required (3D modeling, drawings, and assemblies)
• Experience with forging, metal forming, stamping, tooling, or heavy industrial equipment preferred
• Background in estimating, quoting, or cost analysis for manufactured parts strongly preferred
• Understanding of press systems, automation, and tooling design is a strong plus
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, GD&T, and material specifications
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work cross-functionally in a production environment
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams

• Exposure to both design and hands-on manufacturing environments
• Opportunity to work on forged components, tooling, automation, and plant-level improvements
• Competitive compensation up to $125K plus comprehensive benefits