Position Summary:
Develop safe, low cost, and high quality product designs, product design standards, and design component standards for new and existing product lines through research, prototyping, and team interaction.
Results Statement:
Cost effective, repeatable, reliable, and manufacturable product designs, design standards, and technology and knowledge properties.
Position Responsibilities:
Technical:
1. Develops technology in an effort to establish ‘state of the art’ in product performance, manufacturability, and customer value.
2. Applies heat transfer, fluid dynamic, acoustic and other mechanical engineering acumen for design, selection, prototyping and testing of products, components, systems, or sub systems as assigned.
3. Conducts structural design analysis and recommendations of products as required.
4. Selects, tests, and researches, size and/or confirms components, systems, or sub systems.
5. Develops rules for use and application of components, systems, or sub systems for spacing, clearance, heat transfer rates, etc.
6. Assumes a leadership role in facets of product design technology as assigned or as need becomes evident.
a. Develops systems and methods necessary to establish the technology and transfer it to CDI Design Standards and Best Practices, or to the OFF Team for incorporation in standard design implementation.
b. Develops technology training plans and ensures that others are trained as appropriate.
7. Achieves cost reductions through alternative design practices, component and methods selection alternatives, and product simplification.
a. Proposes opportunities and organizes and leads cost reduction team initiatives as appropriate
b. Works collaboratively with the Materials and Manufacturing groups to select component, supplier, and process alternatives.
8. Assumes a leadership role in technology development and product enhancement/development initiatives.
a. Proposes project scope and deliverables
b. Executes project plans
c. Transfers results and ensures integration with CDI Design Standards and Best Practices, and OFF Team practices.
9. Develops parametric designs that are usable in support of mass customization - design modules that are usable as standards but adjustable to meet variable customer needs.
a. May directly establish M2M product configuration rules to prepare means of populating unique BOM’s for customizable products.
10. Assumes responsibility for perpetuation and integrity of CDI Design Standards and Best Practices.
a. May prepare Engineering Change Order (ECO) actions related to change proposals.
b. Trains others on the use and maintenance of the knowledge base.
c. Conducts research as appropriate to enhance the value of the data and tools.
11. Attends professional conferences, seminars, and trade shows to assess competitor’s technological status, discover new industry developments, and acquire specific technological training.
12. Interacts with Customer Service, Sales, and CDI Sales Representatives to maintain a keen understanding of market trends in technology, end user requirements and wishes, and CDI product strengths and weaknesses.
13. Leads formal corrective actions on failures seeking system change to address the root cause. Will personally lead corrective action initiatives and is dissatisfied with any result except complete solution.
14. Conducts FMEA’s on product designs as appropriate to improve reliability, improve manufacturability, and improve safety for both Manufacturing and the final customer.
15. Participates in design for manufacturability (DFM) brainstorming sessions as part of the CDI G4M product development process.
16. Occasionally coordinates or leads DFM activities to improve product and process reliability.
17. Participates in Design Review Team meetings as appropriate to assist in manufacturability improvement decisions, warranty cost avoidance decisions, and product improvement decisions.
18. Periodically meets with the Customer Service Supervisor to receive feedback on customer satisfaction.
a. Accepts customer satisfaction as an objective of this position and takes or proposes action as appropriate.
b. Anticipates customer needs and preemptively proposes or provides improvements in product design.
19. Coordinates New Product Development and Existing Product Enhancement initiatives.
a. Leads or participates in design for manufacturability (DFM) brainstorming sessions as part of the CDI G4M product development process.
b. Assumes leadership for projects acting as Project Manager.
c. Prepares technical support data, research data and documentation, cost estimates, and systems plans in support of the product development activities.
d. Develops prototypes and pre-production runs to validate and verify design reliability and intent.
e. Coordinates transition of concept to manufacturing release through the Manufacturing Engineer and Manufacturing Leadership.
20. Participates in engineering design problem resolution activities so as to reduce cost, increase quality, and improve productivity.
21. Participates in Design Review Team meetings assisting in manufacturability improvement decisions, warranty avoidance decisions, and product improvement decisions. May occasionally coordinate and lead Design Review Team meetings.
22. Acts as a technical resource for manufacturing and the OFF Team providing explanations and answers, troubleshooting, and other technical assistance as necessary or requested.
23. Participates in Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) activities and resultant ECO or prototype/design modification actions.
Interpersonal:
1. Reporting:
a. Daily verbal reporting on open issues
b. Weekly reporting of project status, and
c. Monthly reporting on department objectives and accomplishments.
2. Works well with team members and with other teams; resolves conflicts appropriately.
3. Accepts the concerns and ideas of others when responding in crisis situations.
Position-Specific Standards:
Measurable Work Standards:
1. Timeliness
a. Performance to project schedules
2. Cost
a. Cost reductions proposed and realized
3. Quality
a. Mistake-proof designs result in warranty issues reduction, warranty cost reduction, and manufacturing problem reduction. FMEA actions result in decreased product failures or customer complaints.
4. Safety
a. FMEA actions result in improvements in CDI safety record and product safety.
Qualifications:
Education:
1. BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience and demonstrated performance.
2. HVAC industry training. College level training in Materials Properties or Metallurgy, Thermodynamics, Strength of Materials, Calculus and Differential Equations, and Statistical Analysis.
Experience:
1. Experience with HVAC equipment design and function.
2. Experience in 3D CAD solid modeling.
3. Experience with Finite Element Analysis.
Capabilities:
1. Skills and Abilities:
a. A demonstrated working knowledge of CAD 3D model development and model manipulation/animation is beneficial.
b. Demonstrated computational skills involving higher level math including calculus, algebra and trigonometry, and statistical methods including regression analysis and quality charts.
c. A demonstrated working knowledge of HVAC equipment operation and design practices.
d. Ability to read prints and interpret and apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing including tolerance analysis.
e. Ability to create spreadsheets and documents which meet professional standards of spelling, grammar and punctuation, and continuity.
f. This position demands an ability to communicate messages and technical information in both verbal and written formats. Skill at effectively instructing or persuading is a regular requirement.
2. Characteristics:
a. Attention to detail as demonstrated in documentation and design and data accuracy is a requirement.
b. High work commitment and standards of excellence
c. A desire to achieve team results and continuous improvement
d. A desire to learn and grow professionally
3. Physical Requirements:
- This position is primarily a desk position but does involve a variety of sitting, standing, walking, bending, and reaching.
