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Design Engineer Jobs in Elkhart, IN (NOW HIRING)

POLYWOOD

Design Engineer

Syracuse, IN · On-site

DESIGN ENGINEER POLYWOOD ® On-site Syracuse, IN Department: Product Development / Design Reports To: Director of Product Design Turn concepts into products people love. At POLYWOOD, we believe great ...

Poly-Wood LLC

Design Engineer

Syracuse, IN · On-site

Description DESIGN ENGINEER POLYWOOD | On-site | Syracuse, IN Department: Product Development / Design Reports To: Director of Product Design Turn concepts into products people love. At POLYWOOD, we ...

Actalent

Senior Design Engineer

Goshen, IN

Senior Design Engineer The Senior Design Engineer leads program-level design and prototype fabrication of axles and chassis for both aftermarket and original equipment applications. This role ...

Lippert

Sr. Design Engineer

Goshen, IN · On-site

The senior design engineer utilizes standard structural analyses and modeling to develop innovative solutions to customer program requirements and needs. The senior design engineer is also ...

Lippert

Sr. Design Engineer

Goshen, IN · On-site

The senior design engineer utilizes standard structural analyses and modeling to develop innovative solutions to customer program requirements and needs. The senior design engineer is also ...

Lippert

Sr. Design Engineer

Goshen, IN

The senior design engineer utilizes standard structural analyses and modeling to develop innovative solutions to customer program requirements and needs. The senior design engineer is also ...

Lippert

Sr. Design Engineer

Goshen, IN · On-site

The senior design engineer utilizes standard structural analyses and modeling to develop innovative solutions to customer program requirements and needs. The senior design engineer is also ...

Lippert

Sr. Design Engineer

Goshen, IN

The senior design engineer utilizes standard structural analyses and modeling to develop innovative solutions to customer program requirements and needs. The senior design engineer is also ...

Lippert

Sr. Design Engineer

Goshen, IN · On-site

The senior design engineer utilizes standard structural analyses and modeling to develop innovative solutions to customer program requirements and needs. The senior design engineer is also ...

Kronos Consulting

Be Seen First

Product Design Engineer

South Bend, IN · On-site

$50 - $65/hr

Kronos has a long history of avionics engineering working with some of the largest aircraft integrators in the world. We always provide our partners with 100% customers satisfaction and on time ...

MAKS Plastics

Product Design Plastics Engineer

Elkhart, IN

$123K - $148K/yr

We are seeking a skilled Product Design Engineer with expertise in thermoforming and SolidWorks to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and ...

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All JobsDesign Engineer JobsDesign Engineer Jobs in Elkhart, IN

Design Engineer information

See Elkhart, IN salary details

$38.8K

$84.3K

$151.7K

How much do design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for design engineer in Elkhart, IN is $84,341.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,100.00 and $94,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design engineer?

Design engineers develop ideas for new products and determine ways to improve existing products. As a design engineer, you put a creative perspective on your technical engineering knowledge to perform your job duties, which include creating sketches of design ideas and using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to generate plans for prototypes. To ensure the product is viable, you also evaluate other aspects of the product design, such as safety, cost, sustainability, aesthetics, and user experience. You collaborate with a team of technicians and other engineers to run tests, troubleshoot problems, and ultimately produce a newly designed product.

What does a design engineer do?

A Design Engineer is responsible for creating and developing new products, systems, or structures by combining engineering principles with creative design. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce detailed drawings and specifications, working closely with other engineers and teams to ensure functionality, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Design Engineers are involved in every stage of product development, from initial concept through prototyping, testing, and final production. Their work often requires problem-solving skills, technical knowledge, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, CAD software proficiency, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and simulation software, along with certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), are commonly required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for collaborating with teams and translating ideas into workable designs. These abilities ensure innovative, efficient, and manufacturable solutions that meet both technical and client requirements.

How does a design engineer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Design Engineers regularly work alongside teams such as manufacturing, quality assurance, and product management to ensure that designs are both innovative and feasible for production. Collaboration often involves participating in cross-functional meetings, reviewing prototypes, and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders. This teamwork is essential to address technical and practical challenges early in the design process, which ultimately helps in delivering a successful product to market. Strong communication and adaptability are key skills for thriving in this collaborative environment.

What is the difference between Design Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectDesign EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Design certifications often preferredBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, Professional Engineer (PE) license optional
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, CAD software, project planningManufacturing plants, labs, fieldwork, CAD and testing
Employer & Industry UsageProduct design firms, automotive, aerospace, consumer goodsManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy sectors

Design Engineers focus on creating and developing product designs using CAD tools, while Mechanical Engineers often work on the broader application, testing, and manufacturing of mechanical systems. Both roles require engineering degrees, but Design Engineers typically emphasize design skills and software proficiency, whereas Mechanical Engineers may engage more in analysis and system integration.

What jobs can a design engineer do?

A design engineer creates and develops new products, systems, or structures across industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and manufacturing. They use CAD software, perform simulations, and collaborate with teams to ensure functionality and safety. Design engineers often work in research and development, product design, or process improvement roles.
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Infographic showing various Design Engineer job openings in Elkhart, IN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $84,341 per year, or $40.5 per hour.

Design Engineer

POLYWOOD

Syracuse, IN • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Polywood rating

5.4

Company rating: 5.4 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

45th of 52 rated furniture manufacturers

Job description

DESIGN ENGINEER
POLYWOOD® On-site Syracuse, IN
Department: Product Development / Design
Reports To: Director of Product Design
Turn concepts into products people love.
At POLYWOOD, we believe great products start with great people. The kind of people who can take an idea, think through the details, solve the practical challenges, and help bring something beautiful and durable to life.
If that sounds like you, you might be the next Design Engineer to join our Product Development and Design team in Syracuse, Indiana.
About Us
POLYWOOD makes sustainable outdoor furniture that is built to last for generations. Our products are designed with purpose, manufactured with care, and made using recycled plastics, including our genuine POLYWOOD lumber.
Our Product Development and Design teams play an important role in shaping what comes next. They help turn new ideas into products that are beautiful, durable, manufacturable, and ready for real life outside.
Joining POLYWOOD means joining a company driven by sustainability, thoughtful design, innovation, and growth. It also means being part of a team that values collaboration, problem solving, and building something meaningful together.
The Work You'll Love Doing
Every POLYWOOD product begins as an idea. In this role, you will help turn those ideas into manufacturable, sample-ready outdoor furniture designs. You will work at the intersection of industrial design, engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing, developing 3D CAD models, technical drawings, assemblies, prototypes, and design-for-manufacturing solutions that support our product development pipeline. This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role where your work will help move new products from concept through costing, sampling, testing, documentation, and production handoff.
What Makes This Role Special
  • Your work becomes real. The models, drawings, and design solutions you create help shape products customers will enjoy for years.
  • You will collaborate across the business. This role partners closely with design, product development, manufacturing, CNC, fabrication, engineering, operations, quality, and costing teams.
  • You will solve meaningful problems. From prototype feedback to manufacturing constraints, your ideas will help improve products before they move into production.
  • You will help protect design intent. Your work helps ensure new products are not only beautiful, but also manufacturable, durable, efficient, and aligned with POLYWOOD standards.
  • You will be part of what is next. POLYWOOD continues to grow, innovate, and expand what is possible in outdoor furniture

Where You Will Make an Impact
  • Translating sketches, renderings, design direction, and early concepts into engineered models
  • Developing 3D CAD models, technical drawings, assemblies, and production-intent design details
  • Creating and refining models for sampling, prototyping, costing, testing, and cross-functional review
  • Evaluating concepts for manufacturability, assembly, structural performance, material efficiency, and long-term production viability
  • Partnering with manufacturing, engineering, CNC, fabrication, costing, and product development teams to resolve design challenges
  • Supporting prototype development with accurate model files, drawings, cut files, assemblies, and documentation
  • Reviewing prototype builds, identifying fit and function issues, recommending corrections, and documenting design revisions
  • Participating in product reviews before handoff to help ensure design intent, construction details, manufacturing requirements, and documentation are aligned

What You Bring
  • You are someone who enjoys the details, but you also understand the bigger picture. You can move between creative concepts and practical manufacturing requirements, and you know how to collaborate with the teams who bring products to life.
  • You likely have experience with CAD modeling, technical drawings, product development, prototyping, and design-for-manufacturing. You are comfortable working through design challenges, asking good questions, and helping improve products before they reach production.
  • Experience with SolidWorks, Mastercam, or similar CAD/CAM tools would be especially valuable. Experience supporting CNC, routing, tube laser, fabrication, assembly, or production documentation would also help you stand out.
  • Familiarity with Jira or other project/workflow management systems is a plus.

If you bring even a few of these, you will step into this role with the ability to make an immediate impact.
POLYWOOD is an equal opportunity employer. POLYWOOD evaluates qualified applicants without regard to characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.
design engineer, product design engineer, mechanical design engineer, product development engineer, CAD engineer, CAD designer, CAD/CAM engineer, SolidWorks engineer, Mastercam, 3D CAD modeling, technical drawings, engineering drawings, product development, outdoor furniture design, furniture engineering, design for manufacturing, DFM, manufacturability, prototype development, sample development, production handoff, product testing, design revisions, CNC routing, CNC manufacturing, tube laser, fabrication, assembly documentation, production documentation, material efficiency, structural performance, cross functional collaboration, manufacturing engineering, product lifecycle, consumer products, durable goods, plastics manufacturing, recycled plastics, HDPE, POLYWOOD, Syracuse Indiana jobs, engineering jobs in Syracuse Indiana, on site engineering role
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