Design Engineer III

CrossFire Group; New Hudson (MI); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 108,000; Part time

Job summary

CrossFire Group in New Hudson, MI is seeking a Design Engineer III to lead mechanical product and system design from concept through detailed drawings. This senior role provides technical direction to a small engineering team and serves as a primary customer contact when required.

The contract position runs ~three months, onsite with potential hybrid work, paying $73.00–$78.57 per hour. Core hours 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, 40‑hour weeks, with design, analysis, and testing support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Automotive Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• At least eight years of professional engineering experience.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Strong written, verbal, and customer-facing communication skills.
• Experience leading technical projects or directing other engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of vehicle, mechanical product, and system components.
• Provide system-level design leadership and technical direction throughout the project lifecycle.
• Guide lower-level engineers and review their technical work.
• Create system physics models and characterize mechanical performance.
• Develop CAD concepts, components, assemblies, and packaging layouts.
• Design structural components, including frames, brackets, and subframes.
• Apply linear-static finite element analysis to evaluate and optimize designs.
• Use ANSYS Mechanical Workbench to conduct structural analyses.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings using ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
• Prepare and present project status reports, technical findings, and design recommendations.

Skills

System design leadership

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Mechanical design

Finite element analysis

Structural components design

GD&T ASME Y14.5

Engineering drawings

Documentation

Microsoft Office

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Automotive Engineering

Tools

Creo

Siemens NX

CATIA

ANSYS Workbench

Job description

Design Engineer III
Location: New Hudson, MI 48165
Pay Rate: $73.00–$78.57 per hour
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Length: Approximately three months
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week
Core Hours: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Work Arrangement: Onsite, with the possibility of a hybrid schedule
Interview Process: Microsoft Teams video interview followed by an onsite interview

About the Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced Design Engineer III to lead mechanical product and system design initiatives from initial concept development through detailed drawing execution. This senior-level position will focus on mechanical system design, advanced CAD modeling, structural analysis, and system-level engineering. The Design Engineer III will provide technical direction to a small engineering team, guide less-experienced engineers, and serve as a primary technical contact for customers when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of vehicle, mechanical product, and system components.
• Provide system-level design leadership and technical direction throughout the project lifecycle.
• Guide lower-level engineers and review their technical work.
• Create system physics models and characterize mechanical performance.
• Develop CAD concepts, components, assemblies, and packaging layouts.
• Design structural components, including frames, brackets, and subframes.
• Apply linear-static finite element analysis to evaluate and optimize designs.
• Use ANSYS Mechanical Workbench to conduct structural analyses.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings using ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
• Support technical decisions through modeling, simulation, and engineering analysis.
• Prepare and present project status reports, technical findings, and design recommendations.
• Develop testing plans, procedures, and reports, including DVP&R documentation.
• Support and resolve customer issues using mechanical, analytical, CAE, and project management expertise.
• Prepare technical specifications for engineering, manufacturing, and testing activities.
• Develop testing methods and procedures.
• Support technicians and manufacturing teams during prototype and product builds.
• Respond to engineering change requests and resolve design-related questions.
• Evaluate technical alternatives and recommend effective engineering solutions.
• Serve as a primary system-level contact for customers when required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• At least eight years of professional engineering experience.
• Advanced parametric 3D CAD modeling experience using Creo, Siemens NX, and/or CATIA.
• Strong hands‑on experience using ANSYS Mechanical Workbench.
• Experience conducting structural analysis and linear-static finite element analysis.
• Experience designing structural components such as frames, brackets, or subframes.
• Experience leading technical projects or directing the work of other engineers.
• Strong knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing in accordance with ASME Y14.5.
• Experience creating detailed engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Strong mechanical design, analytical, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and customer‑facing communication skills.
• Ability to lead and collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and commitment to quality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency with Creo, Siemens NX, or CATIA.
• Advanced ANSYS Mechanical and structural simulation experience.
• Experience with Design for Additive Manufacturing.
• Experience using Windchill or another PDM/PLM platform.
• Automotive, motorsports, aerospace, defense, or vehicle systems experience.
• Experience supporting prototype builds, testing, and manufacturing operations.
• Previous responsibility for system-level design decisions.
• Experience serving as the primary technical contact for customers.
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to support technicians and shop‑floor builds.
• Ability to operate basic hand tools while supporting prototype or testing activities.
• Availability to provide additional project support when required to meet critical deadlines.
• Occasional travel may be required for customer or supplier meetings, training, testing, or industry events.
• Work will typically be performed in a collaborative, team‑based office and engineering environment.