Design Engineer

At Southern Specialties, we're looking for a talented Design Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, developing innovative products, and working closely with customers and manufacturing teams to bring ideas to life. This role offers the opportunity to take projects from concept through production while influencing product performance, quality, and manufacturing efficiency.

If you're passionate about mechanical design, thrive in a collaborative environment, and enjoy seeing your ideas become reality, we'd love to talk with you.

What You'll Do Product Design & Development

• Design, develop, and improve fabricated products, components, assemblies, and manufacturing processes.
• Create detailed part, assembly, and production drawings using CAD software.
• Perform engineering analysis, tolerance stack-ups, and design reviews to ensure products are functional, manufacturable, and cost-effective.
• Lead and support new product development projects from concept through production launch.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to create innovative solutions that meet customer needs and business objectives.

Customer & Technical Support

• Serve as a trusted technical resource for customers, sales, procurement, and operations teams.
• Collaborate with customers to understand application requirements and translate them into practical engineering solutions.
• Provide technical guidance based on product design and manufacturing capabilities.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to product performance, quality, and manufacturability.

Project Management & Manufacturing Support

• Manage engineering projects from initial concept through implementation and production.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, budgets, and deliverables.
• Work with suppliers and vendors to evaluate materials, processes, and cost-effective production solutions.
• Support manufacturing operations through troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve product quality, manufacturing efficiency, performance, and cost.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization projects.
• Support ongoing product maintenance, design updates, and lifecycle management activities.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, specifications, work instructions, and technical procedures.

Required Qualifications What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in a Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, or similar engineering role.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, manufacturing processes, and product development.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across departments and interact with customers.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with sheet metal fabrication and assembly processes.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations and production environments.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and engineering change management processes.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies and lean manufacturing principles.