Product Design Engineer

Overview
The Safariland Group is seeking a creative, self-motivated and detail-oriented individual with a passion for product design and development to join the Engineering Team as a Product Engineer. This relatively small and dynamic team of Product, Mechanical and Tool Design Engineers, manufacturing and design technicians, CNC operators, and engineering coordinators is responsible for designing, developing, and launching new products while providing Production teams with engineering support for current product lines as needed. The various product lines consist of handgun holsters, associated mounting accessories and related gear for the commercial, shooting, hunting, outdoor, and/or law enforcement customers which are produced by or in combination of injection molded, thermoformed, cut-sew and/or leather worked manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities

Create detailed 3D Solidworks CAD models of part designs to meet functional requirements with sufficient detail and accuracy to be produced by the intended manufacturing process.
Create 3D Solidworks CAD model assemblies, with relatively low component count to aid in part design and verification of fit or functionality requirements.
Create 2D detailed engineering drawings of 3D CAD models using Solidworks.
Conduct FEA or Plastics (i.e. wall thickness, flow, warpage, sinkage, draft, and undercut) analysis using Solidworks to simulate functional requirements or identify any manufacturing concerns for plastic parts.
Collaborate with injection mold Tool Engineers or manufacturing and design technicians to optimize design-for-manufacturability.
Using internal equipment (i.e. 3D printers, CNCs, mills, lathes, sewing machines, or thermoforming equipment) execute and/or coordinate fabrication of prototype parts and assemblies for design evaluation and testing.
Source and coordinate procurement of new hardware or outsourced fabricated components as needed for prototype testing
Generate component detail drawings and specifications with sufficient detail to assist Supply Chain teams with sourcing new raw materials or externally fabricated piece parts
Assist with design and fabrication of any new mechanical or pneumatic table top assembly fixtures required for Production.
Assist with first article dimensional inspection of molded or purchased parts
Evaluate test run assembly samples to confirm alignment to fit, form and function design requirements
Conduct destructive and nondestructive testing in accordance with internal product performance requirements
Create bills-of-materials (BOMs) for new product designs within ERP system.
Participate in pilot and test runs for new product line introduction and assembly process training with Manufacturing Engineers.
Produce internal product documentation, QC reference drawings, assembly aids or work instructions in accordance with internal guidelines.
Support Marketing, Sales and Patent Lawyers with product design images or written functional and feature overview references as needed.


Skills & Knowledge

Two (2) to four (4) years of extensive hands-on experience with detailed product design and development for consumer markets is required
Experience with plastic parts design for injection molding is desirable
Previous product design experience for thermoforming, vacuum forming or cut-sew manufacturing methods is beneficial
Mechanical or pneumatic production fixture design experience is a plus
Sufficient skill with engineering measuring tools or gauges to accurately reverse engineer and create CAD models of physical parts will be needed
Fundamental experience and comfortable working with hand tools (i.e. drills, drivers, Dremel tools, wrenches, etc.) for prototype assembly is required.
Experience using 3D printers, desktop scanners or CNC’s, and other manufacturing equipment (i.e. mills, lathes, saws, buffers, sewing machines, etc.) is a bonus
Working knowledge of handguns, functional mechanisms, related accessories (i.e. lights, optics, etc.) and experience with using holsters is an advantage

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design or applicable Product Design or Development degree preferred.
Minimum of two (2) years and demonstrated modeling proficiency with 3D CAD design software. Certified Solidworks Associate or Professional and/or strong fundamentals with both top-down and bottom-up component design, advanced part modeling and some surfacing capability is ideal.
Minimum of 1 year experience with creating 2D engineering detail drawings in accordance with ASME Y14.5 guidelines.
Excellent verbal and written communication with a high-level English proficiency.
Must be comfortable and willing to work with unloaded and deactivated handguns on a daily basis

Management/Supervisory Responsibilities

The role reports to Engineering department Director or Manager.
The Product Engineer role does not have supervisory or people management responsibilities. However, the role will frequently collaborate with the team and guide Engineering Coordinators or Interns with support related tasks for assigned projects.

Schedule/Location

Full-time position, Monday-Friday.
Some 8-hour schedule flexibility is available, between 6am and 6pm.
This is not a hybrid or remote position.
Role requires on-site attendance in a light manufacturing environment.