What are the responsibilities and job description for the Design Engineer position at Precinmac?
Join Our Team!
At Petersen our team members are not just employees they are members of the Petersen/Precinmac community. We recognize that a company is only as good as it’s team members and ours are incredible!
Petersen offers a competitive benefits package which includes 4x10 work schedule, food market breakrooms. Competitive wage, quarterly bonuses, referral bonuses for selected positions. wellness program, medical, dental, vision, disability, life, 401k with employer match. Paid time off, and holiday pay. On the job training programs and training reimbursement. We also offer multiple employee engagement activities and community events.
Summary Of Position
The Design Engineer develops and validates custom equipment, structures, and mechanical systems with an emphasis on mechanical design, engineering analysis, and real-world performance validation. This role ensures that all designs are safe, functional, analytically sound, and properly documented. Responsibilities include creating designs in SolidWorks, performing hand calculations and FEA, defining engineering requirements, and coordinating physical validation testing.
Duties And Accountabilities
- Maintain high standards of honesty, ethics, professionalism, and positive work attitude.
- Understand and follow Petersen Inc. values regarding quality, safety, business ethics, and document control.
- Design custom equipment, structures, and mechanical systems to meet project and customer requirements.
- Develop SolidWorks models, layouts, and detailed fabrication drawings.
- Perform engineering analysis including hand calculations, statics, mechanics of materials, stress and deflection analysis, and FEA using ANSYS or equivalent tools.
- Define loads, boundary conditions, assumptions, and design requirements.
- Prepare, plan, and execute validation testing such as FATs, load testing, and other performance verification.
- Document engineering calculations, test procedures, validation plans, and test results.
- Ensure designs comply with relevant codes, standards, and safety requirements (ASME, ANSI, etc.).
- Conduct research and gather technical data necessary for design decisions and component selections.
- Provide engineering support during fabrication, including resolving technical issues and clarifying design intent.
- Thoroughly check calculations, drawings, and documentation created by others as assigned.
- Support quoting efforts with design input, engineering judgment, and preliminary calculations.
Minimum Skill Requirements
- Strong understanding of statics, mechanics of materials, stress and deflection, and free‑body diagrams.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks.
- Experience performing and validating engineering calculations.
- Ability to plan and execute physical testing (FAT, load testing, etc.).
- Effective oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent prioritization, organizational, and logical decision‑making abilities.
- Highly self‑motivated and able to independently own engineering tasks.
- Good CAD skills; SolidWorks strongly preferred.
- FEA experience (ANSYS or equivalent) preferred.
- Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office and basic engineering software.
- Basic understanding of machining and fabrication processes.
- Familiarity with applicable design codes and standards.
Education And Experience Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- 5–10 years of relevant experience in mechanical design and analysis.
- Professional Engineering (PE) license preferred but not required.
What Success Looks Like
- Designs are analytically sound, validated, and fully documented prior to release.
- Clear alignment between analysis, testing, and actual system performance.
- Comprehensive engineering documentation capturing analysis, decisions, and validation evidence.
- Ability to independently manage projects from concept through final validation.