Mechanical Design & DFM Engineering Lead (SolidWorks)

Job Description

Job Description Join a Proven Builder of Precision

Since 1967, our team in Camarillo, CA has manufactured precision parts for a major automotive brand. We operate three buildings, run about 35 CNC machines, and employ roughly 60 people who take pride in turning designs into production-ready reality.

Your Impact

• Translate R&D concepts into stable, scalable manufacturing processes—owning NPI and engineering changes end-to-end.
• Lead a compact engineering group and interns through mentorship, technical direction, and performance development—reporting directly to the Owner.
• Drive 5–15 concurrent projects with crisp plans, risk management, and on-time delivery.
• Design mechanical components/assemblies in SolidWorks and maintain impeccable documentation and revision control.
• Apply DFM to reduce cost and cycle time while boosting quality and throughput.
• Partner with Production, Quality, Inspection, and Manufacturing on launches and sustaining activities.
• Engineer tooling, fixtures, and CMM inspection fixtures for reliable builds and measurements.
• Audit drawings for GD&T accuracy to ensure manufacturability and inspection clarity.
• Host weekly engineering touchpoints with customers; convert feedback into clear engineering deliverables.
• Coordinate with suppliers to resolve issues, accelerate iterations, and ensure supply readiness.
• Support product validation in concert with Quality; uphold ISO-aligned documentation practices.
• Champion continuous improvement across engineering workflows and on the shop floor.
• Troubleshoot, implement ECOs, and guide inspection/manufacturing during launches.

Work Schedule

• 40–50 hours per week, typically starting around 7 AM
• Enjoy every other Friday off

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years of SolidWorks experience with advanced proficiency.
• Robust background in mechanical design and new product development.
• Experience steering projects from concept through production launch.
• Demonstrated people leadership: mentoring and/or supervising engineers.
• Strong DFM expertise applied to machined components and assemblies.
• GD&T proficiency; confident producing and maintaining controlled drawings.
• Hands-on with precision metrology tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges).
• Exceptional communication, organization, and project execution abilities.
• Comfort thriving amid shifting priorities in a high-velocity manufacturing setting.

Preferred Experience

• Automotive or aerospace manufacturing environments.
• ISO quality systems, documentation, and audit readiness.
• ERP exposure—Epicor experience is a plus.
• Authoring manufacturing methods, routers, and setup work instructions.
• Design of tooling and CMM fixtures.
• Product validation and production support practices.

Leadership Attributes

• Practical, collaborative, and on-the-floor when it matters.
• Analytical, curious, and decisive under pressure.
• Committed to developing early-career engineers.
• Clear communicator across functions and with customers.
• Customer-first mindset and continuous improvement orientation.
• Able to balance technical depth with project and people leadership.

Core Competencies

• Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
• Mechanical Design & Engineering
• Engineering Degree