Mechanical Engineer- NPD

Clopay; Mason (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Clopay Corporation, a leading garage door innovator, seeks a Mechanical Engineer II for New Product Development in Mason, Ohio. You will drive the design of sectional, rolling, and coiling door systems, prototype in the R&D shop, and lead testing to validate concepts from idea to production.

The role demands hands-on prototyping, strong 3D CAD skills (Inventor preferred), and collaboration with project teams to deliver robust engineering requirements and successful product launches.

Qualifications

• BSME degree and at least 5 years of professional product design or development experience.
• Fluent in 3D CAD modeling (Autodesk Inventor preferred) and parametric design.
• Strong collaboration across cross-functional teams and shop floor.
• Hands-on prototyping experience in a lab/shop environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive conceptualization and design of overhead door systems from napkin sketch to manufacturable parts.
• Support project managers and senior engineers to meet milestones and testing procedures.
• Develop deep customer insights to translate requirements into engineering specs.
• Present designs clearly to stakeholders at all levels.

Skills

Product design experience

3D CAD modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Hands-on prototyping

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Job description

Open the Door to Your Future with Clopay Corporation & CornellCookson

At Clopay Corporation, we are more than just North America’s largest residential and commercial garage door manufacturer—we are a powerhouse of innovation, safety, and design. Through our premier brands, we lead the industry in providing groundbreaking high-performance closure solutions for both the places people call home and the spaces where the world does business.

Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, and operating state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing facilities in Troy, Ohio, Russia, Ohio, Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, and Goodyear, Arizona, we are a proud American‑owned company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation. Our reach extends across 55+ distribution centers and thousands of retail locations in the U.S. and Canada ensuring that we deliver the right door for every opening – from homes to businesses and beyond. By joining our team, you become part of a legacy that blends the residential elegance of Clopay, known as "America’s Favorite Garage Doors," with the industrial strength and 180-year heritage of our rolling brands, Cornell and Cookson. Together, we secure everything from family garages to the world’s most iconic stadiums and skyscrapers.

We currently have an opening for a Mechanical Engineer- New Product Development in our Mason, Ohio location.

Clopay Corporation, an industry leader and premier manufacturer, has a pivotal opening for an innovative, high-energy Mechanical Engineer II to join our New Product Development (NPD) team in Mason, Ohio.

Are you an experienced engineer feeling restricted by corporate bureaucracy or a lack of creative outlets at your current position? Do you crave an environment where you can get hands‑on in the R&D shop, prototype your own ideas, and see your concepts transition from a computer screen to a physical, working product?

This isn’t a passive desk job where you get boxed in by rigid boundaries. We are looking for a unique, hybrid engineer who is a true "doer"—someone who is a wizard on the computer with 3D parametric modeling, but who is equally excited to jump into the R&D shop, grab some tools, and lead physical prototyping, testing, and validation efforts. At Clopay, you will be at the center of the action, supporting the design, build, and launch of our next generation of products.

Responsibilities:

• From Napkin Sketch to Reality: Drive the conceptualization and design of cutting‑edge sectional, rolling, and coiling overhead door systems, turning great ideas into manufacturable parts.
• Collaborate and Support: Assist and support Project Managers and Senior NPD Engineers to ensure key deliverables, milestones, and testing procedures are successfully executed. You will serve as the technical engine that helps move projects from initial design to market launch.
• Become the Customer's Advocate: Go beyond the blueprints. Build deep, firsthand expertise on our customers, their day‑to‑day challenges, and the competitive market landscape to translate insights into robust, functional engineering requirements.
• Communicate with Impact: Present and explain your designs and ideas clearly to stakeholders at all levels, from our skilled shop floor associates to the engineering leadership team.

Be a Hands‑On Builder & Problem Solver

• The Prototyping Playground: Move your designs off the screen. Work side‑by‑side with R&D technicians on the shop floor to physically build, assemble, and test engineering prototypes.
• Design Custom Test Setups: Don’t just trust software simulation. Create custom test fixtures and automated test protocols to validate your designs against real‑world stresses and rigorous structural/life safety codes (ASCE, IBC, UL, etc.).
• Root‑Cause Troubleshooting: When a component fails or shows wear during high‑cycle testing, get hands‑on in the shop to diagnose the physical failure, find the root cause, and rapidly prototype a design solution.

Master the Engineering Ecosystem

• 3D Parametric Design: Utilize Autodesk Inventor to create detailed part and assembly drawings, building high‑quality parametric standards.
• Develop Core Standards: Go beyond single‑use designs by creating robust engineering calculations and configurations for variable product lines, implementing them directly into our systems.
• Execute Change Management: Assist with product launches via the engineering change order (ECO) process and write the crystal‑clear installation instructions our field technicians rely on.

Required Qualifications:

• Engineering & Design Acumen: A 4-year Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) plus at least 5 years of professional product design or development experience.
• 3D Modeling Virtuosity: Fluent in 3D CAD modeling (Autodesk Inventor preferred) and parametric design, with a strong understanding of how fabrication methods impact design viability.
• Innate Mechanical Intuition (The Tinkerer's Edge): You have a natural physical feel for how machinery, linkages, and materials behave. We highly value candidates with hands‑on hobbies that build this practical intuition—whether you spend your weekends restoring classic cars, rebuilding engines, woodworking, custom machining, welding, or building complex projects in your home shop.
• Hands‑On Prototyping Drive: A genuine desire to spend time in the shop building and testing. You are highly comfortable using hand tools and power tools, and excited to collaborate on the shop floor with technicians.
• Structured Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with a methodical, structured approach to root‑cause failure analysis.
• Inspirational Collaborator: Excellent communication skills, with a talent for working seamlessly within cross‑functional teams and explaining complex 3D mechanical systems clearly to technical and non‑technical colleagues alike.

Why Choose a Career with Us?

We don't just manufacture doors; we engineer the "front door" of the American dream and the security of global commerce. At Clopay, we believe our strength lies in our people. From our design engineers to our manufacturing associates and delivery drivers, every member of the team plays a vital role in our success.

Our team members thrive because we prioritize:

• Unrivaled Scale: Work for a market leader with a massive manufacturing footprint and a reputation for excellence that spans nearly two centuries.
• A Culture of "What’s Next": We invest heavily in automation, sustainable materials, and smart‑home integration to stay ahead of the curve.
• Commitment to People: As a Griffon Corporation company, we provide the stability of a large organization with the tight‑knit, collaborative feel of a specialized craft team.
• A Legacy of Expertise: Join our "Pioneer Club"—a group of over 440 employees who have been with us for 20 years or more. We offer the stability of a market leader and a place where you can truly grow a lifelong career.
• Commitment to Innovation: We aren’t just keeping up with industry trends; we’re setting them. Whether it’s our exclusive WINDCODE technology or our award‑winning designs, we provide the tools for you to do your best work.
• Community Focused: Our success is linked to the well‑being of our neighbors and communities. Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Clopay employees help provide homes and security to families in the communities where we live and work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Disclaimer:

"This posting does not constitute a contract or guarantee of employment or compensation. Compensation ranges and employment terms are subject to change at the company’s discretion based on skills, experience, qualifications, internal equity, market conditions and geographical location."

"The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed. The above statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the incumbent in this position Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time."