Design Engineer - Lifts

BraunAbility Americas; Winamac (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

BraunAbility Americas is seeking a Design Engineer to contribute to mechanical design for mobility products, focusing on hydraulic lifts and wheelchair ramps. The role emphasizes parametric CAD modeling, design validation, and cross-functional collaboration to meet development requirements.

Responsibilities include prototyping, design reviews, and ensuring designs align with cost and schedule targets, while continuously improving processes and product performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in design/engineering or 4+ years related work experience.
• Dimensional management and understanding of GD&T required.
• Experience with mechanism, steel, and aluminum part design and manufacturing.
• Experience with Autodesk Inventor or similar 3-D CAD software.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop hydraulic lifts and automated wheelchair ramps using CAD (Inventor).
• Apply engineering principles to ensure successful designs within cost targets.
• Plan design, procurement, assembly, and validation per project timing and APQP stages.
• Ensure designs meet quality and cost targets; collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Build prototypes, participate in design reviews, and drive design release and supplier alignment.
• Maintain project specifications and continuously improve designs and processes.
• Attend project meetings and present design engineering assignments.

Skills

Mechanism design

Structural design

Hydraulics

Sheet metal fabrication

Welding processes

GD&T / Tolerance stack-up

Problem solving

Education

BSME / Design Eng. or related

Tools

Inventor

AutoCAD

Siemens NX

Vault

Epicor ERP

Job description

Job Description: DESCRIPTION: BraunAbility is seeking a Design Engineer that can contribute to engineering analysis, design, development, testing and production support for the mobility industry. The person will be responsible for mechanical design of complex mechanisms and structural components that meet development requirements, while maintaining corporate objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Design and develop hydraulic lifts and automated wheelchair ramps through parametric modeling in CAD (Inventor)


• Apply standard engineering principles and techniques to ensure successful designs.


• Plan for design, procurement, assembly, and validation requirements that align with overall Project Timing, Stage Gate (APQP) and Mitigation Strategies.


• Ensure Designs & Systems conform to budgeted Quality and Cost targets.


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, Portfolio) to assure designs account for all requirements.


• Suggest Low-cost Design alternatives, Common Designs and Standardization.


• Build and design prototypes.


• Continuously improve designs, processes, and timing, maintaining project specifications.


• Participate in design reviews to assure all products are developed and engineered to meet or exceed requirements.


• Review designs with peers for good design practices and any anticipated design concerns.


• Works with the project team to assure design release and part supply aligns with overall program.


• Attends project meetings and presents specific aspects of design engineering assignments.

Expectation to Manage Engineering Lab

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Mechanism Design knowledge is a must, expertise preferred, and how to integrate it into the design, considering all tolerances involved.


• Proficiency in structural design, hydraulics, sheet metal fabrication, welding processes, LEAN principles.


• Appreciates statistical relevance within the engineering environment. Able to apply


• Solid working knowledge of quality, design and validation tools including FEA, DFA/M, DOE, D/PFMEA, RVTM, DVP&R, problem solving (8D, Six Sigma, Shanin, or similar), GD&T and Tolerance Stack-up.


• Basic understanding of fasteners, torque, and surface finishes.


• Knowledge of materials and benefits of utilizing one type over the other


• Prototype fabrication and welding knowledge preferred.


• Demonstrated ability to effectively solve and analyze problems.


• Ability to apply knowledge of Kinematics & Dynamics.


• Must be detail-oriented and a self-starter.


• Must possess the ability to function well and drive results, under the demands of project due dates.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills needed to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.


• Well organized, accurate and possesses a strong attention to detail.


• Windows (computer), Outlook (email), Inventor, AutoCad, Teams Center, Siemens NX, Vault, MS Office, and Epicor (ERP)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree or a minimum of 4 years of related work experience required. An equivalent combination of education and/or related work experience equal to 4 years will also be considered Leadership roles to include a minimum of 0-1 years of leadership experience. Individual contributor and/or senior service, production, or support roles highly experienced in area of responsibility whose function includes leading the specialized work of others in the job family on a regular and on-going basis Performs all of the standard and all of the specialized and most complex aspects of the function Serves as subject-matter expert in area of specialization and contributes to the body of knowledge within area of technical expertise Bachelor's Degree in Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Mechanical Engineering Technology (BSMET) or similar degree required.

• Minimum of 6 years of design engineering work experience needed. This position can be filled at a higher level with additional experience.


• Dimensional Management and understanding of GD&T required.


• Experience with Mechanism, Steel and Aluminum part design and manufacturing


• Experience with Autodesk Inventor or similar 3-D CAD software


• Some travel required - less than 10% overnight.

BraunAbility is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees. BraunAbility is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. For over 50 years BraunAbility products have been changing the lives of people with physical disabilities. We invite you to explore employment opportunities and be a part of what we do!