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Plastic Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Design Engineer

Fort Wayne, IN · On-site

$70K - $95K/yr

Must have plastics design experience, specifically injection molding. * Must be proficient in at ... engineering for the most demanding industrial applications.

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

Part Design Engineer

Cross Plains, WI · On-site

$70K - $95K/yr

Plastic Ingenuity has a full-time Tooling Designer position available at our Cross Plains plant ... Assisting in the creation of detailed 2D and 3D CAD models for thermoformed products * Working with ...

Position Description At a Glance Legrand has an exciting opportunity for a Design Engineer II to ... • Plastic design experience • Aluminum extrusion knowledge • Electrical or controls ...

- Plastics Design Engineer Wastequip has a great opportunity for a Design Engineer to join our Container Engineering group. This role will sit in Statesville North Carolina manufacturing facilities.

Part Design Engineer

Cross Plains, WI · On-site

$70K - $95K/yr

Plastic Ingenuity has a full-time Tooling Designer position available at our Cross Plains plant ... Assisting in the creation of detailed 2D and 3D CAD models for thermoformed products * Working with ...

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Plastic Design Engineer information

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$35K

$94.9K

$122.5K

How much do plastic design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for plastic design engineer in the United States is $94,938.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $118,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Plastic Design Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectPlastic Design EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related; certifications like CPD or CSPBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or related; certifications like PE or EIT
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, manufacturing plants, R&D centersDesign offices, manufacturing facilities, R&D centers
Industry UsagePlastic product manufacturing, injection molding, packagingMachinery, automotive, consumer products
Common Search/ComparisonPlastic Design Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer

The Plastic Design Engineer specializes in designing plastic components and products, focusing on material properties and manufacturing processes like injection molding. In contrast, the Mechanical Design Engineer works on a broader range of mechanical systems and components, including metals and other materials. Both roles require engineering degrees and similar certifications, but their focus areas and industries differ, making each role unique in its application and expertise.

What does a Plastic Design Engineer do?

A Plastic Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing plastic components and products, often used in industries such as automotive, consumer goods, and electronics. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed models and drawings, select appropriate materials, and ensure that designs meet performance, safety, and cost requirements. These engineers also collaborate with manufacturing teams to optimize mold designs for production efficiency and quality. Their work often involves testing prototypes, troubleshooting design issues, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Overall, they play a crucial role in bringing plastic products from concept to production.

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

To thrive as a Plastic Design Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical engineering, materials science (especially polymers), and CAD modeling, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with design software like SolidWorks or CATIA, and knowledge of manufacturing processes such as injection molding, are essential, with certifications in CAD or plastics engineering being advantageous. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective communication set standout professionals apart in this role. These skills are crucial for developing innovative, manufacturable plastic components that meet performance, cost, and quality standards.

What are some common challenges faced by Plastic Design Engineers when working with manufacturers, and how can they be addressed?

Plastic Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring manufacturability of complex parts, managing material selection constraints, and meeting tight tolerances during production. Effective communication with manufacturers early in the design process helps address these issues, as does familiarity with various molding processes and tooling limitations. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including tooling engineers and quality assurance, can also help mitigate potential production issues and ensure the final product meets design and quality expectations.
More about Plastic Design Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Plastic Design Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Plastic Design Engineer job openings:
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Infographic showing various Plastic Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $94,938 per year, or $45.6 per hour.
Mechanical Design Engineer - Solidworks

Mechanical Design Engineer - Solidworks

Harbor Designs and Manufacturing

Baltimore, MD

$75K - $102K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

**Applications should be local to Baltimore Maryland**


Product Development Engineer - Mechanical Engineer


About Us:


At Harbor Designs & Manufacturing we understand our clients unique products call for unique solutions and we pride ourselves on working with them as an extension of their team. Unlike traditional product design and contract manufacturing firms, we serve our clients as fractional product managers and our engineers create custom-tailored solutions as our clients that evolve as their product or company's needs evolve. Their core technology is their differentiator and it will be your job as part of our team to help empower them to transform their innovative ideas into cost effective products sold around the world.


As an ISO 9001 & ISO 13485 certified design and manufacturing firm, we serve clients in the medical device, consumer product, transportation, and defense markets.Services include product management, research and development, industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, embedded system development, app development, prototyping, FDA & regulatory guidance, global supply chain management, in house and off shore technical and clean room assembly, warranty repair service, quality assurance, and logistics and inventory control.


About You:


As an experience product development engineer or mechanical engineer, your job will be to work with clients, industrial designers, and other internal stakeholders to execute on designs that can be prototyped and tested, and designs that are optimized form manufacturing (DFM). Your experience with Solidworks make you a pro at executing new designs and revisions to existing designs in CAD, and generate the dimensioned drawings with the appropriate level of detail and tolerancing for intended manufacturing. We will be hiring multiple positions and are open to a range of experience, but any experience or particular interest in specific industries will be matched to projects accordingly.


Main Responsibilities:


  • Complex part design for plastic injection molding experience required
  • Design for Manufacturing experience and production process knowledge required (thermoforming, sheet metal, injection molding, casting, extrusion, etc)
  • Multi-part plastic design and assembly experience required
  • Wire Harness/Wire Routing Design experience required
  • Create 3D CAD models of designs using Solidworks and prepare 2D drawings that convey the design for manufacturing and assembly purposes.
  • Work closely with the customer to capture their design intent and to communicate general project details.
  • Complete product designs for projects ranging from small private inventors to large companies developing new products and support them from concept, detailed design, prototype, manufacturing, to assembly and packaging.
  • Provide creative and innovative solutions to design challenges presented in projects ranging from biomedical, defense, rail, agriculture, exercise equipment, pharmaceutical, household devices, etc
  • Develop and build protocols and fixtures for component validation testing of new product designs.
  • Complete finite element analysis of product components and assemblies using Solidworks
  • Project planning and management of customers and suppliers
  • Strategically source component suppliers and work with sourcing team to select manufacturers for new designs.
  • Communicate designs with manufacturers and component suppliers and source cost effective products.
  • Experience talking to manufacturers


Desired Skills/Qualifications:


  • Motivated
  • Leader
  • Must be an Innovator that has excellent attention to detail and troubleshooting, possesses fabrication and electrical skills.
  • Proficient in Solidworks - PDM
  • Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, etc)
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Self-motivated
  • Enjoys working on challenging designs within a team atmosphere


Desired Experience:


  • Strong CAD background
  • Willingness to grow
  • Plastic design experience
  • SOLIDWORKS experience 2-5 years


Benefits:


  • Unlimited Paid Time Off (UPTO) Policy
  • Bereavement leave
  • Paid sick days
  • Short Term Disability (paid by company)
  • Long Term Disability (optional)
  • 401(k) (optional)
  • Health/ Dental/ Vision insurance (paid in part by company)
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance (paid by company)