Principal Engineering Designer

Daikin Applied Americas Inc; Staunton (VA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K with employer match

Paid time off

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Daikin Applied in Staunton, VA seeks a Principal Designer to design parts and assemblies, create production drawings, and manage BOMs for varied project sizes. You will translate marketing intent into manufacturing docs, ensuring quality, manufacturability, and cost considerations.

The role emphasizes leading across products, standardizing design processes, and guiding designers while collaborating with engineering and manufacturing teams to support weekly production schedules.

Qualifications

• Vocational or Technical Degree in Design/Drafting or Equivalent Experience
• Associates Degree + 15 years of related design experience or BS in Engineering + 12 years design experience
• Understanding of AMSE Y14.5 Desing and drafting standards
• Advance Understanding
• Strong Communication skills - Written and verbal
• Experience with Excel - moderate to high level (preferred)
• Solidworks Mechanical Basic Understanding
• Draft Sight Basic Understanding
• Flexible to travel 10 to 15% Solidworks electrical (Optional Skill)
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment Manages competing demands Changes approach or method to best fit the situation Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events. Advance Capability
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Demonstrated people leadership skills with the ability to empower others to grow and deliver results Advance Capability
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner Gathers and analyzes information skillfully Develops alternative solutions Works well in group problem solving situations Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Basic Capability
• Lean Methodologies applied to everyday activities -- Providing continual improvement practices (Yellow Belt or equivalent)
• Solid knowledge of data systems architecture and applications to facilitate cross‑functional communication to achieve targeted outcomes.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision‑making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Initiative - Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Responsibilities

• Create engineering documentation, including Solidworks, modeling, fabrication, and purchase drawings that conform to Daikin standards
• Translate engineering/marketing intent into manufacturing documentation
• Exhibit a sense of design and mechanical aptitude with abstract thinking and reasoning skills
• Complete work assignments within determined time frame and use judgment in determining assignment goals
• Be part of and function in a team environment including cross functional and inter‑departmental teams
• Demonstrate an understanding of legacy bill of material systems and product structuring logic
• Demonstrate creative ability, accuracy, and cost effectiveness
• Work with Marketing/Sales to provide documentation for original designs or custom modifications of current products to meet weekly production schedules
• Develop BOM selection logic that can drive auto generated Item and BOM creation
• Participate in or lead special team projects
• Give work direction to Designers and train other Designers to perform work
• Collaborate with Engineering and MFG on developing the product, Helping to transfer product knowledge to operations
• Provide over sight with the product engineer on solution development, ensuring and functionality are met Providing problem solving skills and communicating corrective actions
• Understand the systems and method used to transfer engineering documentation to operation in a smooth and consistent way

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025! Principal Designers will use computer-based tools to design parts and assemblies, create production drawings, and manage BOMs for small, medium, or large projects. They will also develop or modify product designs from conception to finished manufacturing documentation, ensuring quality, manufacturability, functionality, serviceability, and cost are considered. The Principal Designer works at a higher level across products or platforms and is heavily involved in standardizing design and business processes and methods, providing leadership to design and managing the entire product line for large complex systems. Location: Staunton, VA – On-site

Your Responsibilities:

• Create engineering documentation, including Solidworks, modeling, fabrication, and purchase drawings that conform to Daikin standards
• Translate engineering/marketing intent into manufacturing documentation
• Exhibit a sense of design and mechanical aptitude with abstract thinking and reasoning skills
• Complete work assignments within determined time frame and use judgment in determining assignment goals
• Be part of and function in a team environment including cross functional and inter‑departmental teams
• Demonstrate an understanding of legacy bill of material systems and product structuring logic
• Demonstrate creative ability, accuracy, and cost effectiveness
• Work with Marketing/Sales to provide documentation for original designs or custom modifications of current products to meet weekly production schedules
• Develop BOM selection logic that can drive auto generated Item and BOM creation
• Participate in or lead special team projects
• Give work direction to Designers and train other Designers to perform work
• Collaborate with Engineering and MFG on developing the product, Helping to transfer product knowledge to operations
• Provide over sight with the product engineer on solution development, ensuring and functionality are met Providing problem solving skills and communicating corrective actions
• Understand the systems and method used to transfer engineering documentation to operation in a smooth and consistent way

Your Qualifications:

• Vocational or Technical Degree in Design/Drafting or Equivalent Experience
• Associates Degree + 15 years of related design experience or BS in Engineering + 12 years design experience
• Understanding of AMSE Y14.5 Desing and drafting standards
• Advance Understanding
• Strong Communication skills - Written and verbal
• Experience with Excel - moderate to high level (preferred)
• Solidworks Mechanical Basic Understanding
• Draft Sight Basic Understanding
• Flexible to travel 10 to 15% Solidworks electrical (Optional Skill)
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment Manages competing demands Changes approach or method to best fit the situation Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events. Advance Capability
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Demonstrated people leadership skills with the ability to empower others to grow and deliver results Advance Capability
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner Gathers and analyzes information skillfully Develops alternative solutions Works well in group problem solving situations Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Basic Capability
• Lean Methodologies applied to everyday activities -- Providing continual improvement practices (Yellow Belt or equivalent)
• Solid knowledge of data systems architecture and applications to facilitate cross‑functional communication to achieve targeted outcomes.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision‑making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Initiative - Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Your Benefits:

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company-paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $73,300 - $120,700 USD per hour in VA. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade in which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied! Building a more sustainable planet. Creating comfortable, healthy spaces for people to connect, live and work. Perfecting the air we share. Daikin Applied is not just an HVAC company. We're part of a global technology powerhouse that uses Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) to transform the world. We're innovators and leaders. Not only as a business, but as individuals. And we are honored to say we were named to Forbes' America's Best-In-State Employers list for 2025, ranking #1 in Minnesota for Manufacturing and Engineering. You see, we're not just innovating on the outside. We're innovating on the inside to unlock people's unlimited potential and bring out the diverse and groundbreaking ideas that will help us solve today's most pressing challenges. That's why Daikin offers more than a job. Here's where you'll be heard, be valued, belong -- and be able to make your mark. Over the past several years, we’ve proudly welcomed several organizations into our family, each bringing unique strengths, deep expertise, and talented teams. As we continue to grow, these partners play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and shaping the future of our organization. Whichever Daikin Applied company you join, you’ll be part of a unified, supportive environment where you can make an impact and grow your career.