NPD Senior Engineer - Mechanical Design

ITW; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ITW (Illinois Tool Works Inc.) is a Fortune 200 company and a global leader in diversified manufacturing of industrial equipment and automotive components. The NPD Senior Mechanical Design Engineer will drive mechanical design execution across new product development programs for cordless and pneumatic power fastening tools used in wood and concrete applications.

The role emphasizes hands-on engineering, cross-functional collaboration, and ownership of design direction, with responsibilities

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical/Mechatronics engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in mechanical design for product development.
• Experience with structured product development frameworks.
• Proficiency with CREO and PLM systems (Windchill).

Responsibilities

• Leads project-level mechanical design execution and defines scope and resources.
• Owns concept development and detailed design activities in 3D CAD.
• Performs design analyses (DFMEA, DOE, tolerance stack-ups) and mitigates risks.
• Takes responsibility for integrated design of electro-mechanical devices.
• Coordinates prototype builds, validation, and transition to manufacturing.
• Identifies design improvements and tracks corrective actions.
• Supports manufacturing process selection and supplier engagement.
• Executes complex assignments with increasing autonomy.
• Partners with marketing, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers.

Skills

Mechanical design expertise

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Project planning

Leadership/mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CREO-11

Windchill PLM

Job description

Job Description:

ITW (Illinois Tool Works Inc.) is a Fortune 200 company and is one of the world’s leading diversified manufacturers of specialized industrial equipment, automotive components, consumables, and related service business. ITW businesses serve local costumers and markets around the globe, with operations in 55 countries and an employee base of more than 46,000 women and men who adhere to the highest ethical standards. These talented individuals, many of whom have specialized engineering or scientific expertise, contribute to our global leadership in innovation. We are proud of our broad portfolio of more than 17,000 granted and pending patents.

ITW Construction provides a variety of fastening systems and truss products for commercial, residential, and remodeling/renovation segments. With products manufactured at locations around the globe serving markets in North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, the Global Tool Unit (GTU) is a part of ITW’s Construction Segment. The GTU innovates, develops, and manufactures through our Customer Back Innovation process best-in-class Power Fastening Systems for the global construction market. Our highly differentiated tools are specified to be used in a variety of applications including wood framing, wood trim, and steel to concrete installations. Tools, and related fasteners, account for a significant portion of total segment revenues

Position Summary

The NPD Senior Mechanical Design Engineer plays a key role in driving mechanical design execution across one or more new product development programs, with responsibility for the design and development of cordless and pneumatic power fastening tools primarily used in wood and concrete applications. This position emphasizes deep hands-on technical contribution and problem-solving skills while progressively taking ownership of project-level decision-making, design direction, and coordination across functions. The role supports the delivery of robust, high-quality, and manufacturable mechanical solutions, while developing leadership capability through increasing responsibility for project leadership and mentoring. The ideal candidate brings strong mechanical design expertise, a proactive ownership mindset, demonstrated technical excellence and cross-functional influence.

Core Responsibilities

• Leads project-level mechanical design execution , leveraging strong technical judgment and project planning skills to define scope, coordinate task-level resources, and deliver committed program objectives on time and within established constraints.
• Owns concept development and detailed design activities , translating customer and market inputs into viable mechanical concepts, developing and refining designs in 3D CAD, and iterating based on internal and external feedback to achieve performance, cost, and schedule goals.
• Performs and drives critical design analyses such as DFMEA, Design of Experiments, Tolerance Stack-ups , and serviceability assessments to proactively identify risks and ensure alignment with product requirements and specifications.
• Takes responsibility for the integrated mechanical design of electro-mechanical devices and subsystems used in power fastening systems, ensuring proper layout, interface definition, design integration, validation, and documentation.
• Coordinates prototype builds and validation activiti es, overseeing the production of prototypes and test units and supporting transition to manufacturing while ensuring quality standards, delivery schedules, and cost targets are met.
• Identifies, recommends, and implements design improvements , tracking corrective actions to resolve failures, enhance reliability, and prevent recurrence of product or system malfunctions.
• Supports manufacturing process selection and supplier engagement , contributing to make/buy decisions and process definition to deliver robust, cost-effective products that meet market needs.
• Executes complex assignments with increasing autonomy , demonstrating initiative, sound engineering judgment, and ownership while progressively expanding influence and leadership within the project team.
• Partners closely with cross-functional teams including marketing, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to define project scope, assess cost targets, and ensure manufacturing feasibility throughout development.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical / Mechatronics Engineering or related field (master’s Preferred)
• 8+ years of relevant product mechanical - design, including 2+ years in product development
• Demonstrated experience working within structured, stage-based product development frameworks,
• Proficiency in CAD Design/Modeling Tools (preferred Pro/Engineer CREO-11)
• Familiarity with PLM systems (Windchill) and version control.
• Strong understanding of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools.
• Demonstrated design capability, problem solving skills and ability to understand and trouble shoot electro-mechanical equipment.
• Demonstrated experience of structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies, including A3’s Problem Solving, 8D, Fishbone (Ishikawa), cause-and-effect diagrams & 5 Why’s.
• Experience in Leading design reviews, DFMEA, PFMEA, DVP&R, and root cause analysis sessions.
• Strong understanding of modeling and simulation tools capabilities (FEA, CFD)
• Advanced understanding of statistical tools such as FRD, DOE, COV, SPC, Pareto Analysis, etc.
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical analysis including, plastic injection, stamping, aluminum, casting, machining, etc.
• Experience in cross-functional collaboration to industrialize new products.
• Experience with prototyping, testing, and production tooling.
• Project management experience is a plus.
• Domestic and International travel: 10-15%

Working Conditions

• Standard office and lab environment.
• Occasional travel to suppliers, manufacturing sites, or testing facilities.

Compensation Information:

The salary range for this position is$100,000- $140,000 annually plus performance incentive. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. The company considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.

ITW is an equalopportunityemployer.We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

Asan equal employment opportunity employer,ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.