Product Design Engineer

Socket.dev; Minnesota; On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

Supplemental insurance options

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid holidays

Online apparel store

Job summary

Kendall Howard is seeking a Product Design Engineer to lead the development of innovative mechanical products from concept to production. You will design components that meet performance, quality, and cost targets while collaborating with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.

The role emphasizes CAD-based design, prototyping, FEA, and manufacturability considerations to ensure reliable, scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Proven experience in mechanical design and tooling development.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software.
• Strong understanding of machining processes and tool design principles.
• Experience with prototyping and design validation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed mechanical designs and tooling concepts using CAD software such as SolidWorks.
• Create and validate prototypes to test design feasibility and performance.
• Perform finite element analysis (FEA) to assess structural integrity and optimize designs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and machining teams to ensure designs are practical and cost-effective to produce.
• Iterate on designs based on testing feedback and production constraints to achieve optimal product performance.
• Document design processes, specifications, and changes to maintain clear communication across teams.
• Support the transition of designs from prototype to full-scale production, addressing any engineering challenges that arise.

Skills

Mechanical design

Prototyping

Tooling development

DFM/ DFA understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Why Kendall Howard?

We’re a growing manufacturer serving the IT infrastructure field, with a no-nonsense attitude: stay humble, work hard, and take on challenges head-on. Around here, you won’t just “do your job” — you’ll be part of a team that builds, solves, and delivers products we’re proud to put our name on. The benefits and pay are solid, but the real perk is being part of something that matters alongside people who care just as much as you do.

Our Benefits

We know benefits matter, and we’ve got you covered. Full-time employees enjoy:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• Supplemental insurance options
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• Online apparel store

About Company:

Kendall Howard’s mission has always been to find a better way for our customers, our industry, and ourselves. We do this through a simple saying to our customers: “The answer is yes, now what’s the question?” The fundamental idea of being agile enough to be able to do whatever it is our customers need ensures that we will always succeed and flourish.

About the Role:

As a Product Design Engineer, you will play a critical role in the development and refinement of innovative mechanical products from concept through production. You will be responsible for designing products and mechanical components that meet stringent performance, quality, and cost requirements. Your work will directly impact the manufacturability and functionality of products, ensuring they meet customer expectations and industry standards. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, quality, and supply chain, you will drive design improvements and prototype iterations. Ultimately, your expertise will help bring high-quality, reliable products to market efficiently and effectively.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience in mechanical design and tooling development.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software.
• Strong understanding of machining processes and tool design principles.
• Experience with prototyping and design validation techniques.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) software and structural simulation.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and production tooling optimization.
• Knowledge of design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) principles.
• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience working in a cross-functional product development environment.

Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed mechanical designs and tooling concepts using CAD software such as SolidWorks.
• Create and validate prototypes to test design feasibility and performance.
• Perform finite element analysis (FEA) to assess structural integrity and optimize designs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and machining teams to ensure designs are practical and cost-effective to produce.
• Iterate on designs based on testing feedback and production constraints to achieve optimal product performance.
• Document design processes, specifications, and changes to maintain clear communication across teams.
• Support the transition of designs from prototype to full-scale production, addressing any engineering challenges that arise.

Kendall Howard provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability. We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities.