Mechanical Engineer, Product Development

J.B. Poindexter & Co.; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI is seeking a versatile Mechanical Engineer for Production Development.

You will work as an internal centralized resource, supporting multiple business units on a wide range of product development projects, primarily focused on commercial truck bodies, accessories, and testing. The role blends CAD, analysis, prototyping, and hands-on manufacturing support, with collaboration across design, fabrication, and supplier teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2–4 years of mechanical engineering experience, preferably in automotive or commercial vehicle industries.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis, product lifecycle.
• DFMEA / PFMEA, DFM, and DVP&R knowledge.
• Familiarity with automotive and commercial truck standards (SAE, ISO, FMVSS).
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Hands-on prototyping and experience with 3D printing technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering projects from concept through design release and handoff.
• Support multi-disciplinary project teams and mentor junior staff.
• Design and develop 3D models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance analysis, and documentation practices.
• Perform structural/mechanical simulations (FEA) and evaluate durability.
• Ensure manufacturability and provide DFM guidance for production lines.
• Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams and communicate with customers.
• Participate in prototype builds, fit checks, and validation activities.
• Incorporate additive manufacturing constraints where applicable.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration and act as an internal centralized engineering resource across multiple business units.
• Train, mentor, and guide interns and junior engineers.

Skills

2–4 years experience

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Product lifecycle

DFMEA / PFMEA

DFM

DVP&R

Familiarity with SAE/ISO/FM VSS

Hands-on prototyping

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

3D printing

Job description

Mechanical Engineer, Production Development

Location: Ann Arbor, MI (Required)

Company & Position Overview

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting over $2.5B in annual revenues and employing over 8,000 team members. The six operating subsidiaries, covering 60 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, and expandable foam plastic packaging. For more information, visit https://www.jbpoindexter.com.

We are the Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization within JB Poindexter & Co., supporting nine business units across the company’s portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions spanning Class 1–7 vehicles. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets.

We operate in a highly dynamic, project-based environment, managing programs ranging from rapid development cycles (weeks) to complex, multi-year product launches, while partnering closely with business units, customers, and suppliers to bring fresh solutions to market.

We are seeking a versatile and hands‑on Mechanical Engineer with 2 – 4 years of experience to join our Corporate Engineering team. You will serve as an internal centralized engineering resource supporting multiple businesses across our organization, working on a wide range of product development projects. While the primary focus is commercial truck bodies, you will also support one‑off accessory designs and custom engineering requests for testing and manufacturing—ideal for an engineer who enjoys variety and is not locked into a narrow specialty.

This role blends design, analysis, prototyping, manufacturing support, supplier interaction, and customer engagement. We are looking for a well‑rounded engineer who thrives in both CAD and hands‑on shop environments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Product Development & Design

• Lead and contribute to the design of commercial truck bodies and related mechanical systems.
• Support custom accessories, retrofit, and specialty engineering projects across multiple business units.
• Develop 3D models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance stack‑up analysis, and proper documentation practices.

Engineering Analysis

• Perform structural and mechanical simulations (i.e., FEA).
• Evaluate designs for durability in heavy-duty, high‑vibration, and high‑load environments.
• Use sound engineering principles to ensure reliability, manufacturability, and safety.
• Competitive benchmarking activities, reverse engineering, VAVE

Manufacturing, Prototyping & 3D Printing

• Work closely with in‑house prototype and fabrication teams to ensure manufacturable designs.
• Provide DFM guidance for production processes and manufacturing lines.
• Participate in hands‑on prototype builds, fit checks, and validation activities.
• Utilize 3D printing for prototyping, concept evaluation, fixtures, or low‑volume components.
• Incorporate additive manufacturing constraints and capabilities into design work when applicable.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with mechanical engineers, designers, fabricators, and cross functional teams.
• Serve as an internal centralized engineering resource to multiple business units, supporting diverse project needs.
• Communicate directly with customers to gather requirements, present designs, and provide technical insights.
• Work with suppliers on feasibility reviews, design improvements, and manufacturing considerations.

Project Leadership & Mentoring

• Lead engineering projects from concept through design release and handoff.
• Support multi-disciplinary project teams as a key contributor.
• Train, mentor, and guide interns, new engineers, and junior technical staff.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2 – 4 years of experience in mechanical engineering, preferably in automotive or commercial vehicle industries.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Strong understanding of:
  • GD&T
  • Tolerance analysis
  • Product lifecycle
  • DFMEA / PFMEA
  • DFM
  • DVP&R
• Familiarity with automotive and commercial truck standards (SAE, ISO, FMVSS).
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Hands‑on prototyping and experience with 3D printing technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with body design
• Background working with heavy-duty or fleet vehicle environments.
• Experience using COMSOL or similar FEA tools.
• Practical fabrication, machining, or shop‑floor experience.
• Control systems understanding
• Experience with Microsoft Suite of tools
• Strong communication skills for customer and cross‑functional interactions.
• Comfort working in an engineering team with diverse project scopes.

What We Are Looking For

• A broad, adaptable problem solver—not overly specialized.
• Someone who enjoys a mix of CAD, analysis, prototyping, and hands‑on engineering.
• A team‑oriented engineer who can lead when necessary and support others when needed.
• A self starter who thrives working on varied projects in a dynamic environment.

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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