Design Engineer at AmTab in Bensenville, IL

Description

At AmTab Manufacturing Corporation, we take pride in delivering high-impact learning environments through precision manufacturing and design innovation. Our factory floor powers it all—machining, welding, painting, woodworking, and final assembly—all under one roof, 100% Made in the USA.

We're seeking a Design Engineer – Manufacturing Support who bridges the gap between creative design and production execution.

If you thrive on solving real-world manufacturing problems, love optimizing processes, and can translate design intent into floor-ready solutions, this role is for you.

As a Design Engineer – Manufacturing Support, you’ll act as the technical liaison between engineering design and factory operations. You'll improve processes across CNC machining, MIG welding, powder coating, woodworking, and mechanical assembly. You'll also produce and revise engineering drawings, optimize part and fixture design, and provide floor-level support when process breakdowns occur.

This role reports directly to the Engineering Manager and collaborates daily with department leads, production supervisors, and project managers.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with manufacturing teams (machining, welding, painting, woodworking, and assembly) to resolve production bottlenecks and inefficiencies
• Design and update jigs, fixtures, tooling, and component layouts to improve repeatability and throughput
• Interpret and create technical drawings, models, and BOMs using CAD software (SolidWorks or similar)
• Conduct root cause analysis for quality issues and implement corrective/preventive actions
• Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and ensure documentation accuracy across revisions
• Collaborate with Project Managers and Product Design to adapt designs for manufacturability
• Participate in new product development from concept to factory floor implementation
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to lean manufacturing and 5S standards
• Coordinate with Procurement and Quality to ensure spec compliance, sourcing, and dimensional tolerances
• Support training of factory floor employees on updated methods, prints, or tooling processes

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering or design engineering role
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar CAD platforms
• Working knowledge of CNC machining (mills, lathes), MIG welding, woodworking equipment, powder coating, and mechanical assembly processes
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and root cause analysis tools (5 Whys, Fishbone, etc.)
• Experience interpreting GD&T, technical drawings, and tolerance stacks
• Strong documentation and communication skills
• Hands-on and solutions-oriented — willing to spend time on the factory floor to understand the work
• Knowledge of ERP systems and BOM structuring a plus

If you’re the kind of engineer who thrives where design meets the real world — and gets energy from helping operations run better, smarter, and faster — we want to hear from you. This is your chance to help power a mission-driven manufacturing operation that builds environments where students succeed.