What are the responsibilities and job description for the Industrial Design Engineer position at MRA-The Management Association?
Universal Presentation Concepts (UPC)
Industrial Design Engineer
Madison, WI
About UPC
At UPC, we design and manufacture high-quality retail store fixtures and point-of-purchase (P.O.P.) displays that bring brands to life. Located in Madison, WI, our 120,000 sq. ft. clean, modern facility is home to a collaborative team that takes pride in craftsmanship, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Family-owned for over 48 years, UPC is growing—and we’ve done that by being employee-centric, fostering strong teamwork, and maintaining exceptional employee retention. We believe great ideas come from empowered people.
Why Join UPC?
We’re expanding and looking for talented professionals across Design, Engineering, Administrative, and Manufacturing roles. If you want to work in an environment where your ideas matter and your work has tangible impact, UPC may be the place for you.
Position Summary
As an Industrial Design Engineer, you’ll play a key role in shaping innovative retail solutions from concept through production. This is a hands-on, collaborative position that blends creativity, engineering, and process improvement within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
What You’ll Do
- Develop innovative design concepts that meet customer needs and expand UPC’s design portfolio
- Create a full range of design deliverables—from concept sketches to detailed production drawings
- Produce clear, concise manufacturing instructions to ensure quality and consistency
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously while adapting to evolving requirements
- Organize and maintain project files to support efficient workflows and version control
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to align design, engineering, and production goals
- Work across multiple file formats and design tools to ensure smooth interoperability
- Apply knowledge of networking, file management, and cloud technologies to support collaboration
- Champion the adoption of new tools and technologies to improve efficiency and communication
- Contribute to UPC’s technical evolution through flexibility, innovation, and problem-solving
- Support continuous improvement initiatives within the design and engineering team
Tools & Work Environment
- CAD Software: AutoCAD
- 3D Modeling: Blender
- Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, and more
- ERP System: Odoo
What We’re Looking For
- Preferably 2 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
- Proficiency with CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar)
- A portfolio showcasing relevant design and engineering work
- Familiarity with basic IT concepts, including operating systems, software, file formats, and cloud tools
- Strong communication skills and comfort working across departments
- Demonstrated aptitude working within an ERP system (Odoo or similar)
Benefits
- Competitive compensation
- 401(k)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Health insurance benefits
- Paid holidays
- And more
MRA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer