Sr. Design Engineer I at Milwaukee Tool in Anderson, SC

Job Description:

Sr. Design Engineer I – New Product Development Engineering (OPE)

The Senior Design Engineer I is responsible for hands-on mechanical design execution for moderate to high‑complexity outdoor power equipment (OPE) systems and subsystems. This role owns detailed design execution from concept to production, with a strong emphasis on robust design, manufacturability, validation, and cost. Operating within the Outdoor Engineering organization, the Sr. Design Engineer I functions as a technical leader and subject‑matter expert for assigned components and assemblies, partnering closely with Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, and global suppliers to deliver competitive, production‑ready designs.

Key Job Functions & Responsibilities

Technical Design Ownership

• Owns end‑to‑end mechanical design execution for assigned components, sub‑assemblies, or systems from concept, layout, and detailed CAD through validation and production release.
• Develops and maintains 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, GD&T, tolerance stacks, and specifications to ensure functional performance, regulatory compliance, durability, safety, and manufacturability.
• Ability to analyze problems and provide design trade‑off analyses (performance, cost, weight, manufacturability, reliability) and documents rationale for design decisions.
• Applies structured problem‑solving methods to resolve design issues, field failures, and manufacturing concerns.
• Demonstrates strong engineering judgment and accountability for design quality and performance.

Design for Manufacturing, Cost, and Quality

• Designs components optimized for high ‑ volume manufacturing, assembly efficiency, tooling capability, and supplier process constraints.
• Partners with Sourcing and suppliers to evaluate manufacturing processes, tooling concepts, and cost drivers early in development.
• Actively supports value engineering / cost ‑ down initiatives without compromising performance or quality.
• Ensures designs comply with internal standards, regulatory requirements, and applicable UL / ANSI / CSA / ISO expectations.

Verification & Validation

• Defines DFMEA inputs, design risks, and mitigation strategies for owned designs.
• Develops and executes design verification plans including tolerance validation, stress analysis, durability testing, environmental testing, and abuse testing.
• Uses data‑driven test results to refine designs and confirm requirements are met with appropriate margin.
• Reviews and approves engineering changes, deviation requests, and corrective actions related to owned designs.

Cross ‑ Functional Collaboration

• Works closely with Product Management to translate customer needs and CTQs into clear engineering requirements.

• Supports Manufacturing Engineering during pilot builds, PPAP, and ramp‑up by resolving build issues and incorporating feedback into design revisions.

• Collaborates with Quality, Compliance, and Reliability teams to support certifications, audits, and failure investigations.

• Provides clear technical communication to global engineering, sourcing, and supplier teams.

• Contributes to the development and improvement of design standards, test methods, and engineering processes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of design experience in consumer, industrial, or electromechanical products.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD (Creo / SolidWorks / NX or equivalent), detailed drawings, and GD&T.
• Demonstrated experience with materials, manufacturing processes, tooling, and supplier‑built components.
• Experience leading design verification and validation activities using data‑driven methods.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and technical communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, results‑driven product development environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with outdoor power equipment, power tools, small engines, or high‑load electromechanical systems.
• Hands‑on experience supporting pilot builds and production ramp‑ups.
• Familiarity with global supplier collaboration and Asia‑based manufacturing.
• Experience supporting UL / CSA / ANSI compliance activities.

Travel

• Occasional travel (approximately 3–10%) to suppliers, manufacturing sites, or test facilities.