Design Engineer

Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies; Franklin (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies is seeking a practical, hands-on Product Design Engineer to design, develop, test, and manufacture electric heating products across HVAC, transportation, food-service, and industrial markets. You will support full product lifecycle from concept to production, with emphasis on manufacturability and cost reduction.

The role involves lab, prototype, and manufacturing-floor work, plus collaboration with manufacturing, quality, purchasing, and sales to

Qualifications

• Hands-on product design across multiple markets and lifecycles.
• Ability to translate customer requirements into manufacturable solutions.
• Experience in testing, prototyping, and DFMEA/validation activities.
• Familiarity with BOMs, routings, drawings, and electrical schematics.

Responsibilities

• Design electric heating products, assemblies, and systems using 2D and 3D CAD tools.
• Create and maintain drawings, models, BOMs, routings, and basic electrical schematics.
• Translate customer requirements and design concepts into manufacturable solutions.
• Select materials, components, and manufacturing methods based on performance, cost, availability.
• Perform practical electrical, thermal, and mechanical analysis and participate in design reviews, DFMEA, and validation activities.
• Create and maintain engineering data and product structures within Epicor ERP.
• Manage engineering changes and maintain alignment between drawings, BOMs, documentation, and manufacturing requirements.
• Support prototype builds, laboratory testing, instrumentation, troubleshooting, and qualification activities.
• Work with Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Sales, and production to resolve issues.
• Support cost reduction, continuous improvement, and engineering investigations.
• Manage multiple assignments, identify risks, and communicate obstacles early.

Skills

Product design

2D CAD

3D CAD

Cross‑functional collaboration

Manufacturing awareness

Prototyping

Technical communication

Tools

CAD tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

We are seeking a practical, hands‑on Product Design Engineer to support the design, development, testing, manufacturing, and continuous improvement of electric heating products across HVAC, transportation, food-service, industrial, and other specialized markets.

This role extends beyond traditional CAD design. The Design Engineer will support the full product lifecycle, including concept development, detailed design, prototyping, testing, engineering changes, manufacturing support, cost improvement, and troubleshooting.

The successful candidate should be comfortable in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment where priorities can shift, resources are shared, and engineers are expected to exercise sound judgment, communicate effectively, collaborate across functions, and independently drive work to completion.

Approximately 25-40% of the role may involve laboratory, prototype, manufacturing‑floor, or troubleshooting activities. Direct exposure to how products are built, tested, and used is an important part of the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Design electric heating products, assemblies, and systems using 2D and 3D CAD tools.
• Create and maintain drawings, models, BOMs, routings, and basic electrical schematics.
• Translate customer requirements and design concepts into practical, manufacturable solutions.
• Select materials, components, and manufacturing methods based on performance, cost, availability, and manufacturability.
• Perform practical electrical, thermal, and mechanical analysis and participate in design reviews, DFMEA, and validation activities.
• Create and maintain engineering data and product structures within Epicor ERP.
• Manage engineering changes and maintain alignment between drawings, BOMs, documentation, and manufacturing requirements.
• Support prototype builds, laboratory testing, instrumentation, troubleshooting, and qualification activities.
• Work directly with Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Sales, and production personnel to resolve product and process issues.
• Support cost reduction, continuous improvement, customer inquiries, and engineering investigations.
• Manage multiple assignments, identify risks, communicate obstacles early, and escalation issues appropriately.
• Maintain clear, professional, and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Engineering Environment

The position supports products that may incorporate:

• Electric resistance heating elements
• Sheet-metal assemblies and fabricated components
• Contactors, relays, circuit breakers, fuses, transformers, and other electrical controls
• Single- and three-phase electrical systems
• HVAC equipment and airflow systems
• Customer‑specific configurations and engineered‑to‑order products
• Engineers may also support products evaluated to UL, Intertek, NFPA, or other applicable regulatory and safety requirements.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Design Engineer in this role is someone who:

• Takes ownership of assigned work and follows tasks through completion.
• Communicates problems, delays, and uncertainties early rather than waiting for them to become critical.
• Uses sound engineering judgment rather than relying solely on written instructions.
• Is comfortable to ask questions while also independently investigating problems.
• Maintains organized drawings, BOMs, engineering records, and project documentation.
• Understands that a technically correct design must also be manufacturable, testable, serviceable, and cost‑effective.
• Can work effectively with engineers, technicians, production employees, suppliers, customers, and management.
• Responds constructively to feedback and demonstrates continued development.
• Remains professional and solutions‑focused when dealing with disagreement, changing priorities, or unexpected problems.