Design Engineer

Gastonia,, NC
Full Time
Mid Level

Design Engineer – Metal Fabrication

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina

Job Type: Full-time

Company: IFAB

About IFAB

At IFAB, we are a leading provider of custom metal fabrication services, dedicated to delivering precision engineering and superior manufacturing solutions. We take pride in building high-quality, innovative metal products for diverse industrial applications.

Job Overview

We are seeking a skilled, detail-oriented, and motivated Design Engineer to join our engineering team in Gastonia, NC. In this role, you will design and develop high-performance metal components, structural assemblies, and sheet metal products tailored to customer specifications and manufacturing capacities.

You will work in close collaboration with our shop floor production team to ensure every design is feasible, cost-effective, durable, and strictly compliant with quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Product Design & Development

  • Design, 3D model, and prototype custom metal products using CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD).

  • Develop detailed engineering drawings, complete with technical specifications, tolerances, and material requirements.

  • Create accurate 3D models and simulations to assess functional performance, manufacturability, and cost-efficiency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with manufacturing and production teams to ensure design practicality and seamless execution on the shop floor.

  • Liaise directly with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to gather engineering requirements and clarify design specifications.

  • Provide real-time engineering support to shop floor operators during fabrication, troubleshooting design challenges or applying required modifications.

Materials & Manufacturing Process Selection

  • Select and recommend optimal materials and fabrication methods (welding, cutting, stamping, bending, CNC machining) based on structural requirements and budget.

  • Collaborate with the broader engineering team to refine manufacturing workflows, minimizing unit costs while maintaining superior product quality.

Design Validation & Testing

  • Conduct formal design reviews, simulations, and empirical testing to validate structural integrity, performance, and functionality.

  • Identify and address design limitations or flaws, making adjustments to maximize ease of manufacturing and cost savings.

Documentation & Technical Reporting

  • Prepare, organize, and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including CAD design files, engineering drawings, and revision histories.

  • Deliver regular progress reports and project status updates to executive leadership and project managers.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

  • Identify and implement engineering enhancements to optimize production efficiency, reduce raw material scrap, and extend product lifespan.

  • Stay current on emerging metal fabrication technologies, tooling, and materials to integrate innovative solutions into future product designs.

Candidate Qualifications & Requirements

Required Qualifications:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering field.

  • Experience: 3 to 5 years of hands-on design engineering experience within a metal fabrication or manufacturing environment.

  • CAD Expertise: Proven, high-level proficiency in SolidWorks and AutoCAD (or equivalent 3D CAD platforms).

  • Metal Fabrication Knowledge: Deep understanding of sheet metal parts, stamping, machining, bending, cutting, and welding processes, as well as tooling and fixture design.

  • Technical Standards: Strong mastery of blueprint reading, interpreting technical specifications, quality standards, and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) notes.

  • Product Lifecycle: Direct experience managing the complete product design lifecycle—from initial concept through prototyping, shop floor testing, and full production.

  • Engineering Principles: Solid foundation in structural engineering concepts and manufacturing constraints.

  • Soft Skills: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, paired with strong verbal/written communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for stress testing, load simulation, and design validation.

  • Familiarity with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems.

  • Practical working knowledge of industry welding codes and standards (e.g., AWS, ASME).

Working Conditions & Environment

  • Dynamic work environment split between office space and the manufacturing floor in Gastonia, NC.

  • Occasional site visits and domestic travel may be required.

  • Flexible working schedule based on active project deadlines and operational needs.

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 07/31/2029
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*