Design Engineer

Union Technologies; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay with equity

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Training and growth opportunities

Job summary

Union Technologies in California seeks a Design Engineer to develop manufacturable mechanical designs for high-performance defense components, tooling, and fixtures. You will translate technical data into accurate 3D models, drawings, and BOMs using SolidWorks, collaborating with manufacturing, quality, and process engineering to take designs from concept to production.

You will apply GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and support DFMs, inspection, and product qualification activities, while refining tooling

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of mechanical design engineering experience in precision manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or complex industrial products.
• Proven ability to create CAD models and manufacturing drawings with SolidWorks or equivalent.
• Strong GD&T knowledge, tolerance analysis, and design for manufacturability.
• Experience supporting design changes, prototypes, and technical reviews.
• Experience with CNC-machined components and tooling or fixture design; Mastercam a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed CAD models, assemblies, drawings, and specifications for components and tooling.
• Translate customer data, design requirements, and production constraints into manufacturable solutions.
• Create and maintain CAD models, BOMs, and documentation using SolidWorks.
• Apply GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and establish tolerances, materials, and surface finishes.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and inspection teams for DFM/DFA.
• Design and refine work holding, gauges, tooling, and fixtures for CNC machining and fixtures.
• Support design reviews, engineering change requests, drawing releases, and revision control.
• Resolve drawing interpretation questions during prototyping and production.
• Support first article inspections (FAI) and product qualification activities.
• Evaluate tolerances, material selections, and interfaces to improve quality and yield.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders on designs and deviations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

SolidWorks

GD&T

3D modeling

DFM/DFA

CNC tooling design

PDM/engineering change

Materials and tolerances

Communication with machinists

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Mastercam

SolidWorks PDM

Job description

Union Technologies is reindustrializing America’s defense manufacturing base with a first-of-its-kind Factories-as-a-Stockpile™ model, integrating advanced robotics, manufacturing, and software into sovereign factory systems at scale. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, UNION is dedicated to restoring America’s industrial strength and guaranteeing deterrence for the century ahead.

We recently emerged from stealth with $50M in funding led by top-tier venture investors and strategic partners. Read more in our Press Release

As a Design Engineer your primary responsibility is to develop and release manufacturable mechanical designs for high performance, defense grade metal components, production tooling, fixtures, and related equipment. This role translates technical requirements into accurate 3D models, drawings, and specifications, working closely with manufacturing, quality, and process engineering to bring designs from concept through qualification and production. A successful Design Engineer takes a hands on approach to solving design challenges, balances performance with manufacturability, and maintains disciplined configuration control in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed 3D models, assemblies, production drawings, and specifications for precision metal components, tooling, and manufacturing fixtures

• Translate customer technical data, design requirements, and production constraints into practical, manufacturable engineering solutions

• Create and maintain CAD models, drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and engineering documentation using SolidWorks

• Apply GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and establish clear dimensional, tolerance, material, and surface finish requirements

• Collaborate with process, manufacturing, quality, and inspection teams to support design for manufacturability and assembly (DFM/DFA)

• Design and refine work holding, gauges, tooling, and fixtures for CNC machining, forging, inspection, and automated production cells

• Support design reviews, engineering change requests, drawing releases, and revision control through established PDM processes

• Resolve drawing interpretation questions and address design related issues identified during prototype builds, commissioning, and production

• Support first article inspections (FAI), dimensional inspections, technical reviews, and product qualification activities

• Evaluate tolerances, stack ups, material selections, and component interfaces to improve quality, repeatability, and manufacturing yield

• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders on component designs, tooling requirements, technical deviations, and corrective actions

• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Preferred Knowledge

• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks, including parametric part modeling, assemblies, drawings, and design revisions

• Experience creating production-ready mechanical drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5

• Knowledge of CNC machining, metal forming or forging, fabrication, and precision manufacturing methods

• Working knowledge of materials, fits, tolerances, surface finishes, and inspection techniques

• Ability to design tooling, work holding, gauges, and fixtures with manufacturing and inspection needs in mind

• Experience with SolidWorks PDM or similar product data management and engineering change control systems

• Strong problem solving, dimensional analysis, and technical documentation capabilities

• Ability to collaborate effectively with machinists, manufacturing engineers, quality personnel, and suppliers

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and provide hands-on support on the factory floor

• Proficiency using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Project)

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related engineering field or industry related relevant experience

• 5+ years of mechanical design engineering experience in precision manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or complex industrial products

• Demonstrated experience creating and releasing detailed CAD models and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks or equivalent software

• Strong working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, material specifications, and design for manufacturability

• Experience supporting design changes, prototypes, engineering documentation, and cross-functional technical reviews

• Experience with CNC-machined components and manufacturing tooling or fixture design preferred, proficiency in Mastercam a plus

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to:

• Walk, sit, stand, bend, lift, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, use hands to fingers, handle or feel objects, and move continually during working hours

• Lift over 50 pounds, along with over the head lifting

• Vision abilities, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust and focus

• Able to work flexible hours – including over-time, and weekends to meet customer demands

Personal Protective Equipment - typically required to perform the essential functions of this job - will be provided.

Benefits & Perks:

• Competitive pay with equity

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Training and growth opportunities