Job Description

Design Engineer (Entry-Level)

Location: Waterloo, Iowa

Employment Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite

Compensation: $65,000 – $75,000 base salary

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package

Relocation: Not provided

Openings: 3

Position Overview

HireNow Staffing is confidentially partnering with a heavy industrial manufacturing organization seeking a motivated Entry-Level Design Engineer to join its engineering team in Waterloo, Iowa.

This role is designed for early-career engineers who want hands-on exposure to mechanical product development within a structured manufacturing environment. The selected candidate will support senior engineering staff while gaining experience in design validation, drafting, production collaboration, and controlled engineering change processes.

Candidates must demonstrate stability, commitment to engineering career growth, and a clear understanding of working in a fully onsite industrial setting. Frequent job changes or lack of relevant hands-on exposure will not be considered.

Core Responsibilities

Mechanical Design Support

• Assist in developing mechanical components and assemblies for industrial applications.

• Translate engineering concepts into detailed production-ready drawings.

• Review specifications and ensure design outputs align with functional requirements.

Documentation & Engineering Controls

• Prepare and maintain accurate engineering documentation.

• Support the creation and revision of bills of materials, part drawings, and change documentation.

• Participate in structured engineering change management processes.

Manufacturing Collaboration

• Work directly with production and fabrication teams to clarify design intent.

• Address design-related manufacturing challenges and assist with corrective updates.

• Participate in product testing and validation activities.

Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to cost-reduction and process optimization initiatives.

• Support root cause analysis for product or production issues.

• Assist in evaluating material selections and manufacturing methods.

Required Qualifications (Non-Negotiable)

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or closely related discipline.

• Minimum 1 year of engineering experience, internship, or co-op exposure in a manufacturing environment.

• Basic proficiency in CAD modeling and drafting software.

• Strong attention to detail and technical accuracy.

• Ability to work onsite full-time in Waterloo, Iowa.

• Stable employment history or academic progression demonstrating commitment.

• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications (Strongly Emphasized)

• Experience in heavy industrial manufacturing environments.

• Exposure to trailer, transportation equipment, or heavy equipment manufacturing.

• Familiarity with metal fabrication processes such as welding, machining, and assembly.

• Understanding of GD&T principles and mechanical tolerance analysis.

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional manufacturing teams.

• Demonstrated problem-solving ability within production environments.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking individuals who:

• Are early in their engineering careers and committed to long-term development.

• Thrive in hands-on, industrial settings.

• Prefer working closely with production teams rather than strictly theoretical design roles.

• Are local to or able to reliably commute to Waterloo, Iowa.

• Understand the expectations of a fully onsite engineering environment.

Deal Breakers

• No engineering degree.

• No manufacturing exposure.

• Seeking remote or hybrid flexibility.

• Frequent job changes without progression.

• Requires visa sponsorship.

HireNow Staffing Disclaimer

HireNow Staffing is acting as a direct placement partner for this role. All candidate information is handled confidentially and evaluated against defined requirements. This job description outlines the general scope of responsibilities and qualifications. Duties may evolve based on client needs and business growth. Only candidates meeting the core qualifications will be considered for interview.

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