R&D Mechanical Engineer – CAD & FEA

Research & Development Engineer – Mechanical Design / FEA | Highway Safety Products

About the Role:
Join a leading highway safety products company designing guardrails, crash cushions, and other safety solutions. As an R&D Engineer, you'll lead the design and development of new products and improvements to existing systems, from concept through final manufacturing documentation. Work hands-on with mechanical design, prototypes, FEA, and controlled failure analysis in real-world crash testing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead R&D projects: planning, prototyping, testing, and final design documentation.
• Perform mechanical design using 3D CAD (Inventor, SolidWorks, or similar).
• Conduct FEA simulations, including non-linear dynamic analysis (LS-DYNA preferred).
• Develop test procedures, collect and analyze engineering data, and recommend design improvements.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, and Engineering teams.
• Provide cost analysis and recommend fabrication/manufacturing methods.
• Present technical findings and updates to internal teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Civil, or related Engineering; Master's/Ph.D. considered with relevant projects.
• 3+ years of R&D engineering experience; at least 1 year in project coordination or supervision.
• Hands-on mechanical design experience, including steel products and manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency in CAD (Inventor, SolidWorks, or equivalent).
• FEA experience (LS-DYNA preferred, others acceptable).
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently or in a team.

Preferred:

• Design for welding or multi-material products (metal & plastic).
• Patent design experience.
• Hands-on experience with vehicles, fabrication, or farm/mechanical projects.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• PTO
• 401k with company match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Why Join Us:
Work on long-term R&D projects with real-world crash testing, designing safety products that save lives. Ideal for hands-on engineers who enjoy mechanical design, problem-solving, and collaborating across teams.