Sr. Engineering Manager - Design

American Plastics, LLC; Jefferson City, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

401k

Paid vacation

Job summary

American Plastics, LLC is seeking a Sr. Design Engineer specializing in plastics for its Jefferson City Innovation Center.

You will lead a team to design and develop plastic components and products, ensuring functionality, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness, while collaborating with cross-functional teams using CAD tools. You will mentor engineers, oversee prototyping, evaluate materials, and optimize designs for injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming, ensuring quality and proper

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or plastics engineering and 7+ years in plastic injection molded product design.
• Experience leading design teams and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Familiarity with design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA).
• SolidWorks proficiency; prototyping experience and rapid iteration capability.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and project-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a design engineering team focused on plastic components and products.
• Design, model, and document parts using CAD tools and create 2D drawings.
• Oversee prototyping, material selection, and design validation.
• Optimize designs for manufacturability across injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming.
• Ensure quality standards and maintain design documentation and change records.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, manufacturing, QA, and procurement.

Skills

Team leadership

Injection molding experience

Rapid iteration

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or plastics Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Description

American Plastics, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative plastic-injection molded products for the household & garage storage and commercial cleaning end-markets.

We are seeking a skilled Sr. Design Engineer specializing in plastics to join our team at our Innovation Center, in Jefferson City, MO. This position will lead a team of design engineers and will be responsible for designing and developing plastic components and products, ensuring functionality, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness. The role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, utilizing CAD software, and staying updated on industry trends and technologies. This position will report to the Vice President of Engineering.

• Product Design: Conceptualize, design, and develop plastic components and products according to project requirements, considering factors such as functionality, aesthetics, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness.
• CAD Modeling: Utilize CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA) to create detailed 3D models and 2D drawings of plastic parts and assemblies.
• Prototyping: Oversee the prototyping process, including selecting appropriate materials, collaborating with prototype technicians, and validating designs for fit, form, and function.
• Material Selection: Evaluate and select suitable plastic materials based on performance requirements, environmental factors, and cost considerations.
• Design Optimization: Continuously improve designs for efficiency, performance, and cost reduction through analysis, simulation, and testing.
• Manufacturability: Collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are optimized for production processes such as injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming.
• Quality Assurance: Work closely with quality control teams to establish and implement quality standards for plastic components and products, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
• Documentation: Prepare and maintain comprehensive design documentation, including technical drawings, specifications, and design change records.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including product management, manufacturing, quality assurance, and procurement to achieve project goals and deadlines.
• Research and Innovation: Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in plastic design, and incorporate innovative solutions into product development processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or plastics Engineering
• Excellent at leading and developing a team
• Experience of hands-on injection molding experience a plus.
• 7 + Years experience with Product Design of plastic injection molded products
• SolidWorks knowledge.
• Experience with prototyping techniques and rapid iteration processes.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) principles.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong communication skills.

We offer a competitive salary, full benefit package including medical/dental, 401k, and paid vacation.