Design Engineer / Automotive Body Design Specialist

Metalfab Fire Trucks; Centreville; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and dental benefi

Life and disability insurance

Employer-supported retirement savings

Paid vacation

Paid statutory holidays

Training and certifications support

CAD software and engineering tools

Stable, full-time employment

Opportunities for advancement

Design and manufacture of customized (

Job summary

Metalfab Fire Trucks in New Brunswick is seeking an experienced Design Engineer / Automotive Body Design Specialist to translate customer requirements into production‑ready fire apparatus designs. This hands-on role combines 3D CAD design with fabrication knowledge to develop bodies, compartments and assemblies, and to produce detailed drawings for manufacturing on the shop floor.

You will collaborate with engineering, production and welding teams to ensure designs meet quality, cost and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of mechanical design in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in 3D CAD design and modeling.
• Experience producing detailed drawings for manufacturing.
• Experience with SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor or Autodesk Fusion.
• Strong problem-solving and hands-on engineering skills.
• Ability to manage multiple custom designs with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and cross-team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and modify mechanical designs and assemblies for customized fire apparatus using 3D CAD.
• Design fire truck bodies, compartments and related components.
• Create complete manufacturing drawings with dimensions, tolerances, materials.
• Translate customer requirements into production-ready designs.
• Collaborate with fabrication, welding and production personnel to ensure manufacturability.
• Participate in design reviews and support manufacturing processes.
• Review existing designs to improve functionality, durability, and cost.
• Maintain CAD models, BOMs and engineering documentation.
• Support prototype development and product improvements.
• Apply engineering standards and safety considerations.

Skills

3D CAD design and modeling

SolidWorks

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Fusion

Fabrication knowledge

Communication skills

Hands-on engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Tools

SolidWorks

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Fusion

Job description

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Industry: Custom Fire Apparatus Manufacturing

Salary: $70,000-$85,000 per year, based on education, experience, technical capabilities and demonstrated manufacturing knowledge

Design the Fire Apparatus That Protects Communities

Metalfab Fire Trucks is a premier manufacturer of customized fire apparatus, proudly designing and building high-quality emergency vehicles for fire departments and communities across North America.

Our fire apparatus are engineered and manufactured to meet the demanding requirements of firefighters, emergency responders and the communities they serve. Every vehicle is built with a focus on quality, durability, safety, functionality and customer-specific design.

We are seeking an experienced Design Engineer / Automotive Body Design Specialist to join our manufacturing team in New Brunswick.

This is a hands‑on design position for someone who enjoys taking a customer requirement or product concept from initial design through detailed engineering and ultimately seeing the finished fire apparatus manufactured on the shop floor.

The successful candidate will develop practical, production‑ready designs and detailed engineering drawings for custom fire truck bodies, emergency vehicle components, fabricated metal assemblies and related systems.

We are looking for a self‑starter who combines strong 3D CAD capabilities with a practical understanding of fabrication, welding, assembly and manufacturing processes. You will work closely with engineering, production, fabrication and other internal teams to ensure every design meets the functional, quality, cost and manufacturability requirements expected of a premier fire apparatus manufacturer.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and modify mechanical designs, components and assemblies for customized fire apparatus using 3D CAD software.
• Design fire truck bodies, compartments, emergency vehicle components, fabricated assemblies, sheet‑metal components, fixtures and related products.
• Create complete manufacturing drawings including dimensions, tolerances, materials, weldments, hardware and fabrication requirements.
• Translate customer requirements, product concepts and engineering specifications into practical, production‑ready fire apparatus designs.
• Support the design of custom solutions that meet the operational needs of fire departments and emergency responders.
• Work directly with fabrication, welding, machining, assembly and production personnel to ensure designs can be manufactured efficiently and consistently.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical support throughout the manufacturing process.
• Review existing fire apparatus designs and identify opportunities to improve functionality, durability, serviceability, manufacturability, quality and cost.
• Troubleshoot design and manufacturing issues and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Maintain accurate CAD models, drawings, bills of materials, revisions and related engineering documentation.
• Support prototype development, testing and implementation of new fire apparatus designs and product improvements.
• Apply appropriate engineering standards, customer requirements, safety considerations and company procedures.
• Support continuous improvement, product standardization and new product development initiatives.
• Help develop reusable designs, components and manufacturing standards that improve engineering and production efficiency.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure designs support the long‑term reliability and performance expected from Metalfab fire apparatus.

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology, or an equivalent combination of education and practical design/manufacturing experience.
• 5+ years of mechanical design experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably involving fire apparatus, truck bodies, trailers, specialty vehicles, heavy equipment or custom metal fabrication.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD design and modeling.
• Demonstrated experience producing detailed drawings that can be used directly by manufacturing and fabrication teams.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
• SolidWorks
• Autodesk Inventor
• Autodesk Fusion
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles and manufacturing processes.
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances and material requirements.
• Strong practical problem‑solving skills and a hands‑on approach to engineering.
• Ability to manage multiple custom designs, projects and priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with engineering, manufacturing, production and project teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional assets include:

• Experience designing welded fabrications, truck bodies, compartments and structural assemblies.
• Experience designing machined components and custom vehicle systems.
• Previous experience in fire apparatus, emergency vehicles, truck, trailer, specialty vehicle, heavy-equipment or transportation manufacturing.
• Familiarity with GD&T and applicable engineering standards.
• Experience working directly with welders, fabricators, assemblers and production personnel.
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA).
• Experience with prototype development, product testing and design validation.
• Experience developing and maintaining bills of materials and engineering change/revision documentation.
• Understanding of the operational requirements of fire departments, emergency responders or other public‑safety organizations.

What We're Looking For

Technical ability is important, but we are equally interested in how you approach custom manufacturing and customer‑driven design challenges.

The right person for this position is someone who:

• Takes pride in designing products that protect and serve communities.
• Understands that fire apparatus must be reliable, durable, safe and practical in demanding emergency‑service environments.
• Designs products that can be manufactured efficiently and consistently.
• Enjoys spending time on the manufacturing floor as well as working in CAD.
• Understands that a successful design balances performance, manufacturability, quality, serviceability and cost.
• Is comfortable taking ownership of a project from initial concept through production.
• Listens to feedback from welders, fabricators, assemblers and production personnel and incorporates practical manufacturing knowledge into designs.
• Can translate unique customer requirements into thoughtful, functional and manufacturable solutions.
• Looks for ways to simplify products, improve quality and strengthen manufacturing processes.
• Has strong attention to detail without losing sight of the overall vehicle and customer requirements.
• Takes initiative and works effectively with limited supervision.
• Is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a respected manufacturer of customized emergency vehicles.

We offer a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain experienced engineering and manufacturing professionals.

Salary: $70,000-$85,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

Our compensation and benefits package may include:

• Comprehensive health and dental benefits
• Life and disability insurance
• Employer‑supported retirement savings
• Paid vacation
• Paid statutory holidays
• Support for relevant technical training and industry certifications
• Company‑provided computer, CAD software and engineering tools
• Stable, full‑time, year‑round employment
• Opportunities for advancement as our engineering and manufacturing operations grow
• The opportunity to contribute to the design and manufacture of customized fire apparatus used by fire departments and emergency responders

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means producing accurate, practical and production‑ready designs that help Metalfab Fire Trucks deliver dependable, high‑quality customized fire apparatus.

You will become a key technical resource for both engineering and production—someone who can take a customer requirement or concept, develop the design, work through manufacturing challenges and see the finished fire apparatus successfully move through production.

Your work will contribute directly to improving vehicle quality, manufacturing efficiency, durability, serviceability, cost control and the continued development of innovative fire apparatus solutions.

Most importantly, your designs will help firefighters and emergency responders perform their work safely and effectively when their communities need them most.

Apply

If you are an experienced mechanical designer, engineer or engineering technologist who enjoys combining 3D design with hands‑on manufacturing and wants to help build customized fire apparatus that make a difference, we would like to hear from you.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.