About Solarcraft
At Solarcraft, we design and build integrated outdoor automation and power systems for Upstream, Midstream, Utility, Communications, and Remote Automation environments. With in-house engineering, metal fabrication, control panel integration, and solar and UPS power solutions, our teams work side by side to deliver reliable, rugged systems proudly made in the USA. Our success is driven by the people behind the work and the care they bring to every project.
Total Rewards
Our Total Rewards package reflects our commitment to fairness, respect, and long-term growth. We offer competitive compensation that is based on skills, experience, qualifications, and job-related requirements. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports you and your family, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
Living Our Core Values
Solarcraft is guided by a strong set of values established by our President and lived out every day by our team. These values shape how we treat our customers and each other:
C – Clarity: Never make a customer wait or wonder
R – Responsibility: Be efficient, proactive, and engaged
A – Accuracy: Make quality a habit
F – Fulfillment: Enjoy your job
T – Tenacity: Continuously improve
Why Join Solarcraft
- Family-First Culture: Work in an environment where people are respected, supported, and valued as part of a close-knit team.
- Career Growth: Build a meaningful career with opportunities for development, learning, and advancement.
- Culture of Excellence: Collaborate with talented professionals who take pride in their work and support one another.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy benefits designed to support your professional success and personal well-being.
Position Summary
The Manufacturing Designer, Senior is responsible for developing practical, manufacturable mechanical designs that support Solarcraft's engineered power systems and shelters. This role bridges engineering and manufacturing by producing robust sheet metal designs that are simple to manufacture, cost-effective, and reliable in the field. This position is highly hands-on. The ideal candidate enjoys spending time both in SolidWorks and on the manufacturing floor, validating designs, solving production issues, and continuously improving manufacturability. Success in this role comes from combining exceptional CAD skills with sound engineering judgment and a deep understanding of fabrication processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Design mechanical components, assemblies, and enclosure systems using SolidWorks.
- Create production-ready sheet metal designs that minimize complexity while maximizing strength, manufacturability, and quality.
- Develop manufacturing drawings and documentation suitable for fabrication and assembly.
- Work directly with manufacturing personnel to validate designs and resolve production issues.
- Support prototype builds and first article manufacturing.
- Collaborate with Systems Engineers, Mechanical Designers, Electrical Engineers, and Manufacturing personnel throughout the product development process.
- Improve existing products by reducing cost, simplifying manufacturing, and improving reliability.
- Design fixtures, brackets, mounting systems, panels, and structural components.
- Evaluate fabrication methods and recommend improvements.
- Troubleshoot manufacturing problems and implement permanent corrective actions.
- Participate in design reviews and provide manufacturability feedback.
- Maintain engineering documentation, BOMs, and revision control.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout engineering and manufacturing.
- May perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of mechanical design experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Expert-level proficiency with SolidWorks.
- Extensive experience designing sheet metal components.
- Experience designing welded assemblies.
- Experience working directly with manufacturing operations.
- Ability to independently take a concept through production release.
Preferred Qualification/Experience
- CSWP
- Engineered-to-order products
- Electrical enclosures
- Industrial equipment
- Structural steel fabrication
- Aluminum fabrication
- CNC laser cutting
- CNC press brakes
- Welding processes
- Powder coating
- Hardware selection and fastening methods
- ERP/PDM systems
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Primarily office-based with regular interaction within manufacturing and production environments.
- Ability to stand and walk within manufacturing environments as needed.
- Ability to occasionally lift or move materials up to 40 pounds.
- Occasional travel may be required for field support, commissioning, customer meetings, or validation activities
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role
The best Senior Manufacturing Engineers are builders at heart. They instinctively understand how parts will be fabricated before they begin designing them. They simplify rather than complicate, spending time on the manufacturing floor to validate ideas and continuously improve their designs. They collaborate closely with mechanical designers, systems engineers, electrical engineers, and production personnel to deliver integrated, manufacturable solutions that are reliable, cost-effective, and straightforward to build. Their expertise allows them to anticipate manufacturing challenges early, reducing rework and helping products move efficiently from concept to production.
