Fixture Design Engineer

Fixture Design Engineer

The Fixture Design Engineer supports product development within the manufacturing team by designing, validating, and improving complex weld fixtures and tooling. This role focuses on creating robust, cost-effective fixtures and mechanisms, often with 50 or more components, and driving projects from initial concept through to validated production-ready solutions while managing multiple assignments simultaneously.

• Design and modify weld fixtures and equipment used for production parts and assemblies.
• Design tooling and fixtures capable of producing products that meet specifications, are durable in a welding environment, and remain cost effective.
• Validate fixtures for accuracy, repeatability, and functional performance.
• Create and maintain detailed part models, assembly models, and drawings that clearly communicate the manufacture, assembly, and use of tooling and fixtures.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently through all phases, from initial design through validation and implementation.
• Collaborate closely with product engineers and operations teams to optimize designs for manufacturing quality, efficiency, and cost.
• Work directly with machinists, fixture builders, and external machine shops to ensure designs can be manufactured and assembled as intended.
• Apply appropriate engineering analysis to ensure designs possess sufficient strength, stiffness, and other performance characteristics for their intended function.
• Develop and refine standards of work for engineering to improve design efficiency and reduce validation time.
• Engage in hands-on interaction with production parts, tooling, and hand tools to understand real-world constraints and refine designs.
• Troubleshoot and resolve unknowns and potential failure modes in fixture and tooling designs.
• Incorporate error proofing and ergonomic considerations into solutions to improve safety, usability, and quality.
• Demonstrate ownership of decisions and outcomes, following through on actions needed to achieve successful project completion.

• 5+ years of applicable experience in fixture design, weld fixture design, weldment design, or related mechanical design work.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering technology, or an equivalent discipline.
• Proven experience designing complex mechanical mechanisms and fixtures, including assemblies with 50 or more parts.
• Strong background in weldment and weld fixture design for production environments.
• Proficiency in CAD tools for tooling and fixture design, such as Solid Works and Creo.
• Demonstrated ability to take projects from concept through to completion while managing multiple projects at the same time.
• Ability to validate fixtures for accuracy, repeatability, and functional performance using sound engineering practices.
• Capability to apply engineering analysis to ensure adequate strength, stiffness, and durability of designs.
• Solid problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve unknowns and address failure modes in the design process.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including product engineering, operations, machinists, and vendor machine shops.
• Strong attention to quality and precision, with a focus on producing designs that enable manufacturing to achieve right-first-time results.

• Ability to adjust quickly to changes in priorities and project requirements.
• Comfort working with a high degree of autonomy, including making sound decisions and maintaining self-motivation.
• Commitment to continual learning and a willingness to challenge existing methods and procedures.
• Demonstrated ownership mindset in decision making and accountability for outcomes.
• Experience developing solutions with the end user in mind, including error proofing and ergonomic considerations.
• Effective project management skills, including organizing tasks, managing timelines, and coordinating stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills to clearly explain design intent and collaborate with technical and non-technical partners.
• Interest in innovative and novel design solutions, with the ability to describe and reflect on…