Mechanical Engineer — Cost Optimization & Value Engineering

MSA, The Safety Company; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MSA Safety is seeking a Mechanical Engineer focused on cost optimization to join our global Value Engineering & Cost Optimization team in Cranberry Township, PA. You will apply design-for-cost principles to reduce product cost while preserving safety, quality, and performance.

Lead cross-functional optimization efforts across materials, processes, and manufacturing, delivering validated cost savings and improved competitiveness for a broad portfolio of safety products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on design experience using 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience with plastics, materials, manufacturing processes, or electro-mechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of FEA, tolerance analysis, and validation methods.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and project-management skills.
• Ability to collaborate across functions to drive implementation.

Responsibilities

• Support VA/VE workshops, product teardowns, benchmarking, and design-to-cost activities.
• Identify opportunities through part consolidation, modularity, material alternatives, specification optimization, and process improvements.
• Create and evaluate concepts using CAD, FEA, fatigue analysis, tolerance analysis, prototyping, and testing.
• Apply DFM, DFA, DFS, and other DFX methods.
• Develop drawings, specifications, BOM updates, analyses, test plans, and engineering change documentation.
• Coordinate prototype builds, testing, release, and implementation.
• Lead or support multiple cross-functional cost optimization projects and communicate results.
• Document technical outcomes and validated savings.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

FEA software

Job description

MSA Safety is seeking a Mechanical Engineer focused on cost optimization to join our global Value Engineering & Cost Optimization team in Cranberry Township, PA. You will apply design-for-cost principles to reduce product cost while preserving safety, quality, and performance.

Lead cross-functional optimization efforts across materials, processes, and manufacturing, delivering validated cost savings and improved competitiveness for a broad portfolio of safety products.