Product Design Engineer

Sterling St James LLC; Avoca (IA); On-site; USD 54,500 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling St James LLC in Avoca, IA is seeking an Engineer Product Design to translate customer requirements into manufacturable designs using SolidWorks and AutoCAD for on-site fabrication. You will review specs with sales, develop detailed drawings, manage ECOs, and ensure compliance with UL/NEC/NFPA standards while supporting production and field inspections.

Requires associate degree and 3–5 years design experience; strong CAD skills; knowledge of mobile electrification systems; excellent

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, or Engineering Technology with 3–5 years of related experience.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD (2018 or newer) and SolidWorks.
• Solid understanding of mobile electrification systems used in industrial and commercial applications.
• Excellent communication skills to document and discuss technical requirements with internal teams and customers.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate customer design specifications with sales to align product capabilities with project needs.
• Create detailed component drawings, layouts, schematics, and proposals using SolidWorks and AutoCAD/Draftsight.
• Analyze equipment and performance specs to develop designs suitable for current manufacturing methods and facilities.
• Manage ECOs, support corrective actions, and resolve design-related challenges.
• Participate in design review meetings with sales, manufacturing, and quality teams for custom-engineered solutions.
• Provide direct engineering support to the production floor and assist with on-site inspections and commissioning activities.
• Interpret relevant industry standards and regulatory codes including UL, NEC, and NFPA.

Skills

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Mobile electrification systems

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, or Engineering Technology

Tools

DraftSight

AutoCAD

Job description

Engineer Product Design

Job Title: Engineer Product Design

Location: Avoca, IA

Salary Compensation: $26 – 40 per hour | $54,500 – $83,000 annually (Salary commensurate with experience.)

Work Location: On-Site Only (Not remote or hybrid)

Job Type: Direct Hire

Industry: Manufacturing

Company Size: 100-500 million in annual revenue

Keys to Job: BS or Associate degree in Mechanical/Electrical Design or Engineering Technology + 3-5 years experience; advanced proficiency in SolidWorks and AutoCAD; strong understanding of mobile electrification systems; ability to create detailed technical drawings and layouts; excellent communication for customer/sales collaboration; knowledge of regulatory codes (UL, NEC, NFPA); problem-solving for custom designs and ECOs.

For the Engineer Product Design we are seeking a skilled technical professional to provide expert product application support and customized design solutions for our engineering and sales teams. This role focuses on translating customer requirements into practical, manufacturable designs while offering guidance on product capabilities, specifications, and implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate customer design specifications alongside sales teams to align product capabilities with project needs.
• Create detailed component drawings, layouts, schematics, and proposals using SolidWorks and AutoCAD/Draftsight.
• Analyze equipment and performance specifications to develop designs suitable for current manufacturing methods and facilities.
• Manage Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), support corrective actions, and resolve design-related challenges.
• Participate in design review meetings with sales, manufacturing, and quality teams for custom-engineered solutions.
• Provide direct engineering support to the production floor and assist with on-site inspections and commissioning activities.
• Interpret relevant industry standards and regulatory codes including UL, NEC, and NFPA.
• Locate and modify existing design files as needed and contribute to continuous improvement by reducing recurring issues.
• Over time, build deep expertise in assigned product lines and support test requests and result analysis.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, or Engineering Technology, plus 3–5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD (2018 or newer) and SolidWorks.
• Solid understanding of mobile electrification systems used in industrial and commercial applications.
• Excellent communication skills to clearly document and discuss technical requirements with internal teams and customers.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The position is primarily office-based with regular sitting, computer use, and occasional walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching. Employees must be able to lift up to 25 pounds frequently. Vision abilities required include close vision. The work environment is usually quiet, though occasional visits to production or test areas may require PPE such as safety glasses and steel-toe shoes. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. This role has no direct supervisory responsibilities but provides technical guidance and leadership to designer-level team members.