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Design Manufacturing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Analyze and design manufacturing processes by applying knowledge of product design, fabrication, assembly, tooling, and materials and gathering input from operators, stakeholders, and equipment ...

Your responsibilities include ensuring optimal design for CNC manufacturing such as milling, turning, and multi-axis machining. You'll utilize data, hands-on development, and testing to guide ...

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Design Manufacturing information

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$45.5K

$86.1K

$136K

How much do design manufacturing jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for design manufacturing in the United States is $86,149.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is design manufacturing?

Design manufacturing is the process of transforming product concepts and designs into physical items through various manufacturing methods and technologies. It involves collaborating across disciplines to ensure that products are both aesthetically appealing and functional while being cost-effective to produce. Professionals in design manufacturing work on prototyping, testing, and optimizing designs for mass production, considering factors such as materials, manufacturability, and quality control. This field is essential in industries like automotive, electronics, and consumer goods, where innovation and efficiency are critical.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Design Manufacturing Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Manufacturing Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, CAD design, and manufacturing processes, typically supported by a degree in mechanical or industrial engineering. Familiarity with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), manufacturing resource planning (MRP) systems, and industry certifications like Six Sigma are common requirements. Strong problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help professionals excel in cross-functional teams and adapt to evolving production needs. These competencies are vital for ensuring efficient product development, cost-effective manufacturing, and high-quality outcomes in competitive industrial environments.

What is the difference between Design Manufacturing vs Product Development?

AspectDesign ManufacturingProduct Development
Primary FocusCreating detailed manufacturing plans and processes for product productionConceptualizing, designing, and developing new products
Required SkillsEngineering, manufacturing processes, CAD, quality controlDesign, innovation, market research, prototyping
Work EnvironmentFactories, production lines, engineering labsDesign studios, R&D labs, offices
Industry UsageManufacturing firms, industrial sectorsConsumer goods, tech, automotive sectors

While both roles involve product creation, Design Manufacturing focuses on translating designs into manufacturable products, ensuring efficient production processes. Product Development emphasizes creating new products from concept to prototype. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What jobs can you get with design and manufacture?

With a background in design and manufacture, you can pursue roles such as product designer, manufacturing engineer, CAD technician, industrial designer, or production manager. These jobs typically require skills in design software, understanding of manufacturing processes, and sometimes certifications like Six Sigma or ISO standards.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Design Manufacturing, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Design Manufacturing often encounter challenges such as bridging the gap between creative design concepts and practical manufacturing constraints, managing tight production timelines, and ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising quality. Effective communication and collaboration with engineers, suppliers, and production teams are crucial for overcoming these hurdles. Staying up-to-date with the latest manufacturing technologies and adopting iterative prototyping approaches can also help address design feasibility issues and streamline the production process.
More about Design Manufacturing jobs
What cities are hiring for Design Manufacturing jobs? Cities with the most Design Manufacturing job openings:
What states have the most Design Manufacturing jobs? States with the most job openings for Design Manufacturing jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Design Manufacturing jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Design Manufacturing jobs are:
Infographic showing various Design Manufacturing job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,149 per year, or $41.4 per hour.
Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) - iPhone

Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) - iPhone

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$128K - $193K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 17 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 661 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish.
The people here at Apple don’t just build products - they craft the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.
The Apple iPhone Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) is accountable for driving the development of key mechanical manufacturing processes across Apple’s worldwide supply base. In this highly visible, hands-on role as the expert technical member of the Manufacturing Design Team you will have direct frequent communication and collaboration with Apple Industrial Design, Product Design, Manufacturing Design partners and worldwide suppliers.
Description
Apple MDE’s are extraordinary engineers that provide end to end manufacturing and process solutions for key design features. This includes manufacturing process development and capability (includes incorporating all aspects of equipment, consumables, key parameters, process setup, and qualification), selection and/or design of manufacturing equipment, automation, and strategic R&D.
-Define best-in-class processes to meet all Apple design and operational requirements
-Develop and document processes including all parameters, consumables and secondary operation requirements to meet defined specifications
-Work with Global Supply Managers to define and establish supply chain requirements utilizing selected equipment and manufacturing suppliers
-Provide leadership at manufacturing sites during development and product production ramp, and drive engineering issues to resolution
-Use data to drive process decisions, basic data analysis, DOEs, SPC, etc.
Identify, research, develop, and qualify premier equipment manufacturers and suppliers
-Define part tolerance and specifications by demonstrating process capability to Product Designers and Industrial Designers
-Lead process development/have expertise in one of the process development areas listed below:
CNC machining - Develop all CNC milling and turning processes. Scope appropriate CNC equipment to be used, develop CNC fixtures, implement touch probing, lead the reduction of cycle time, development of advanced cutters and coatings, High Speed Machining implementation, support the programming and optimization of all CNC-related activities at contract manufacturers worldwide. Own yield improvement actions and process change decisions based on statistical process control (SPC) data analysis.
Surface Finishing - Develop new processes in the area of blasting, tumbling, polishing, wet sanding, lapping, anodizing, and PVD. Ensure that quality and yield requirements are met.
Glass Processing - Develop all processes for glass scribe/break, grinding, lapping, polishing, chemical strengthening, decoration and functional coatings (with inks, and other thin film deposition techniques etc). Ensure that quality and yield requirements are met.
Assembly - Develop all assembly processes. Includes incorporating welding, gluing/adhesives, and mechanical fit based processes. Support qualification of equipment at suppliers, including detailed documentation of process parameters. Own yield improvement actions and process change decisions based on statistical process control (SPC) data analysis. Identify automation opportunities and justify automation projects based on automation line efficiency metrics.
Painting - Develop all paint processes to achieve cosmetic and surface durability requirements. Scope and specify paint equipment, environmental clean room requirements, evaluate and select most appropriate paints and painting parameters to ensure quality and yield requirements are met.
Preferred Qualifications
BS, MS or PhD in mechanical, manufacturing or industrial engineering preferred.
Demonstrate hands-on mechanical ability
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal interpersonal skills.
Experience with highly cosmetic parts a plus as is experience in a manufacturing environment of consumer electronics or consumer plastic / sheet metal products
Be a self-starter by defining all engineering tasks to meet project objectives and have the ability to quickly learn about new processes with very little information provided
Minimum Qualifications
3+ years of full time mechanical manufacturing experience required
25% domestic and international travel required
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $128,400 and $193,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976