Design Engineer I - PE (Production Engineering)

Title: 
Design Engineer I – Reports Directly to Production Engineering Manager
 
Department: 
Production Engineering
 
Position Summary: 
This position reports to Production Engineering Manager. Understands die casting operation, machinery, dies, tools, and processes sufficiently to implement design changes. Uses CAD system including 3-D Catia and/or 3-D Ideas to draft such changes. Participates in technical/evaluation meetings to understand and to help in decisions to improve die design changes and improvements.
 
Scope of Responsibilities: 
Operates CAD computer software including Helix, Micro Cadam, Catia, and Ideas.  Assigned responsibility, by P.E. Manager, for maintaining & updating the drawings for specific AWC products and tools.  Participates and/or leads product, die and tooling improvement meetings.  This position is responsible for providing preliminary design changes/improvements in follow-up to agreed-upon changes.  Meets with customer to discuss design related issues and concerns.  Observes floor conditions, machine operations, die repair services, etc. to become more effective and knowledgeable in improved part drawings.  Participates and/or leads inspection of completed tooling.  Helps Evaluate toolmaker performance based on cost, quality, delivery… and provides feedback to supplier for improvements.  Sets and tracks weekly work schedule for ones self, based on approval by Production Engineering Manager.  Responsible for preliminary quotation and scheduling of customer requested die cast tooling changes.  Reviews and suggests implementation methods for internal tooling design change requests.  Then submits those suggestions and plans to Production Engineering Manager for final approval.  Meets with other department engineers to discuss and explain implementation plans for approved design change requests.
 
Essential Duties & Responsibilities: 

17. Daily Management:
    • Reviews production and tooling condition information for individual product responsibility.  The P.E. Manager and/or the P.E. Advisor report this information from the daily production meetings.  The P.E. Engineer then evaluates, and assures the implementation of any needed corrective action steps.
    • Prioritizes ones own daily activities and oversees the implementation of those activities, having been given direction and approval from Production Engineering Manager.
    • Answers questions regarding product drawing specifications; including geometry definition, tolerance, and GD&T attributes of a drawing.
    • Provides routine and special reports including: Tooling status, annual plan progress, die ordering, design change scheduling, etc.
    • Leads and assists in the elimination of tooling design flaws that cause production and/or quality failures.

• Participates in weekly, monthly, and other scheduled meetings of engineering personnel.
• Complies with all company safety policies and practices including lockout/tag out, container labeling, confined space, personal protective gear, etc.
• May provide input into maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of AWC’s die cast machines and peripheral equipment.
• Assure proper design of die cast dies and trim dies within individual part responsibilities.
• Strives towards future advancement in leadership.
• Continually seeks betterment thru additional training and self-advancement.
• Performs other activities related to Production improvement as assigned by AWC Production Engineering Manager

17. Improvement Activities:
    • Drafts and presents to AWC Production Engineering Manager for review and approval the annual self-improvement plan.
    • Assures that all objectives within ones own annual improvement plan are consistent and support the P.E. Department Annual Innovation Plan.
    • Provides monthly and quarterly Innovation Plan reports.
    • Develops other improvement plan activities for improving the overall efficiencies within the company.
    • Reviews and receives approval from Production Engineering Manager for improvement activities when necessary.
    • May participate in Quality Circle improvement team when possible.
    • Performs other related improvement functions as assigned.

17. Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience, with a minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience using a cad system. Recent engineering graduates are considered based on skills and/or education focus areas. A Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is preferred.
17. This position requires a strong aptitude for mechanical design, and the ability to visualize 3 dimensional geometry from 2 dimensional concept drawings.
17. Must have good presentation skills, and be able to convey complex design concepts.