What are the responsibilities and job description for the Design Engineer position at E3 Displays?
About E3 Displays
E3 Displays designs and manufactures custom display solutions for programs where failure is not an option: cockpits, military vehicles, medical devices, and industrial equipment. Since 2001 we have been known for proprietary optical bonding, custom engineering, and an on-shore assembly model. Our Phoenix facility includes a Class 10K cleanroom, and we are ITAR registered, ISO 9001:2015 certified, and ISO 13485 compliant. We are a team of about 40, supported by an APAC division, and we are growing from display integrator to full human interface system integrator.
Our Purpose
“Engineered To Display Excellence”
For a Design Engineer, this is literal. Excellence means a design that passes qualification the first time, builds cleanly on our floor, and performs for the life of the program.
Our Values: ACTION
Our six values are how we evaluate ourselves, hold each other accountable, and recruit the people who will carry E3 forward.
• Accountability. You stand behind your drawings, analysis, and test results, and report them as they are.
• Commitment. You stay engaged from first prototype through first article, production, and sustaining support.
• Teamwork. You work side by side with Production, Quality, Purchasing, Technical Sales, and APAC.
• Innovation. You look for better ways to design, bond, seal, and integrate, and help turn them into E3 standards.
• Ownership. When a part does not fit or a test fails, you lead the root cause investigation.
• No excuses. You set realistic commitments, raise risks early, and deliver with integrity.
Our Quality Policy
“Understand, Deliver & Continually Improve.”
• Understand customer requirements, risks, and expectations before design starts.
• Deliver reliable products, services, and support through complete, manufacturable designs.
• Continually improve processes, performance, and effectiveness by building lessons learned into our standards.
Position Summary
We are hiring a Mechanical Design Engineer with about two years of experience after earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Reporting to the Engineering Team Lead, you will own the mechanical design of custom display assemblies and integrated systems from requirements through production release. You will work directly with customer engineers in aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial markets, and see your designs built and tested in weeks, not years.
You will collaborate daily with Technical Sales on concepts, Purchasing and suppliers on custom parts, Production and Quality on manufacturability, and our APAC team on offshore components. At our size, your work is visible and your impact is direct.
What You Will Design
• Optically bonded assemblies of LCD or OLED panels, touch sensors, and cover glass, plus cleanroom bonding fixtures.
• Rugged displays qualified to MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, or DO-160.
• Bezels, enclosures, and brackets in machined aluminum, sheet metal, and molded plastic.
• IP sealing, EMI shielding, and thermal features such as heaters and heat spreaders.
• Integrated systems combining display, touch, electronics, and computing.
What You Will Learn
Few engineers learn display integration in school, and we do not expect you to. We will teach you optical bonding and how mechanical design affects bond quality, how our proprietary LOCA adhesives behave over temperature, how display stack-ups and their tolerances combine, and how rugged displays fail under shock, vibration, and humidity. Engineers who master this become the people customers call first.
Key Responsibilities
• Review customer specifications, identify gaps and risks, and support Technical Sales with concepts and estimates.
• Create 3D models and production-ready drawings in SolidWorks using ASME Y14.5 GD&T.
• Perform tolerance stack-ups, hand calculations, and basic FEA for structural, thermal, and shock and vibration loads.
• Select materials, adhesives, gaskets, and finishes, and design assembly and test fixtures.
• Apply DFM and DFA for a high-mix, low-volume factory, and support prototypes and pilot builds on the floor.
• Write test plans and reports, support qualification testing and first article, and lead failure analysis.
• Maintain BOMs and process engineering change orders under our design and document control system.
• Participate in 8D and corrective action, and handle technical data in compliance with ITAR.
• Communicate with customers, suppliers, and our APAC team, and contribute to E3 design standards.
A Typical Week
About half your time goes to design work: modeling, drawings, tolerance studies, and analysis. The rest is split among customer calls, production floor and lab support, and documentation. One day you may join a kickoff for a sunlight-readable display; the next you may be in the cleanroom watching the first trial of a bonding fixture you designed.
Your First Year
• 30 days: Complete safety, cleanroom, ITAR, and quality training, and learn our bonding process, CAD standards, and change process.
• 90 days: Own design tasks on active programs, release drawings that pass review, and present a design review.
• 6 months: Manage multiple projects and serve as a trusted contact for customers and suppliers.
• 12 months: Own a full development cycle through first article approval and become a go-to resource in one technical area.
Required Qualifications
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• About two years of post-graduation experience in mechanical design or manufacturing engineering (one to four years considered).
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent CAD, GD&T per ASME Y14.5, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Understanding of machining, sheet metal, molding, and die cutting.
• Clear communication and willingness to work hands-on in the lab, on the floor, and in the cleanroom.
• Must be a U.S. person (citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) due to ITAR.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with displays, electronics, or electromechanical products in aerospace, defense, or medical.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, DO-160, IP ratings, and ISO 9001, AS9100, or ISO 13485 systems.
• FEA or thermal simulation, adhesives, sealing, or optical bonding knowledge.
• First article, 8D, or failure analysis experience; Epicor ERP is a plus.
• Experience working with suppliers or teams in Asia.
How We Measure Success
On-time deliverables, first-pass drawing quality, qualification test results, manufacturability, customer feedback, contributions to continuous improvement, and living the ACTION values.
Who Thrives Here
You enjoy variety, like seeing your work built quickly, and are comfortable asking an operator what makes a part hard to build. This role is not a fit for someone who wants to work only in CAD. At E3, engineers wear several hats, and in return get broad experience, real ownership, and direct access to leadership.
What We Offer
• Pay range: Competitive salary
• Medical, dental, vision, 401(k)
• Professional development support and meaningful work on mission-critical products.
Position Details
Full-time, onsite in Phoenix, Arizona. Reports to the Engineering Team Lead. Up to 10 percent travel. Work spans office, production floor, and cleanroom, with ESD and gowning requirements and occasional lifting up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations are available.
Hiring Process
Introductory call, technical interview with the Engineering Team Lead including a walkthrough of a past project, then an onsite visit with a design discussion and facility tour. We assess both technical ability and the ACTION values, so bring real examples.
A Note from Leadership
We are building a company our customers trust with their most demanding programs. That takes engineers who care about details, tell the truth about what they see, and hold themselves to a high standard. We are not filling a seat. We are looking for a future leader of our engineering team.