Design Engineering Manager

Design Engineering Manager

The Design Engineering Manager will lead a team of engineers responsible for driving product and process improvements based on customer requests and internal initiatives. This is a hands-on leadership role where the manager also owns and executes projects independently. The Sustaining Design Engineering team is the primary technical liaison between CelLink’s engineering teams, manufacturing teams, and key customers, ensuring that design modifications—such as layout revisions or material/component substitutions—are accurately translated into CAD, implemented seamlessly on the manufacturing line, and validated through internal testing. This is a high-impact role that ensures engineering rigor, operational efficiency, customer-focus, and team development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Customer Interface

• Serve as an escalation point for technical issues and customers inquiries related to sustaining engineering.
• Ensure high standards in communication, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction.
• Support customer testing and validation activities as needed.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of sustaining design engineers; establish goals, conduct performance reviews, and support career development.
• Foster a collaborative and high-accountability culture that emphasizes continuous learning, problem-solving, and ownership.
• Prioritize and allocate team resources effectively to meet business needs and customer timelines.
• Champion a safety-first culture across manufacturing and office environments.

Design Support and Development

• Oversee and guide CAD design work, validation testing, and product updates throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead post-launch design change projects and continuous improvement exercises.
• Efficiently utilize rapid prototyping methods to demonstrate proof of concepts
• Lead design review and DFMEA meetings, participate in PFMEA sessions to institutionalize lessons learned, best practices, and improve design quality.

Engineering Program Management 

• Act as the primary engineering contact for complex customer-driven changes and improvement projects while providing cross-functional oversight and leadership for the team’s projects
• Ensure all changes are executed in alignment with internal standards and customer expectations, following APQP processes.
• Lead the design release process, ensuring documentation accuracy and readiness for manufacturing launch.

Minimum Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related fields.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, including at least 1-2 years in direct supervisory role.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Experience with 3D CAD systems, SolidWorks preferred.
• Experience with product development of High Voltage / Low Voltage automotive connection systems
• Good working knowledge of automotive and industry standards – MILSPEC, USCAR, ISO, etc.
• Experience working in one of the following industries in a product development/design release role: Automotive, Defense/Aerospace, Industrial
• Experience to support product development/manufacture during DV/PV/SOP phases.
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate with various internal and external teams.
• Proficient in GD&T and stackup analysis, capability to read and understand engineering specs sheets and drawings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, desire to work with customers to ensure positive outcomes.
• A results-driven, enthusiastic, and eager personality is highly desired!

Work Environment – 

Includes both a typical office environment, with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues, and a shop environment, with exposure to high noise levels from operating machines, physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts, nuisance dust, and skin exposure to chemicals used to run/maintain machines.

PPE-

May be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to safety glasses, safety shoes, bump caps, gloves, hair nets, masks, and clean-room frocks while adhering to the prescribed safety procedures.