Mechanical Engineer - Product Development & Design

Description

For over 50 years, BETA Fueling Systems in Reidsville, NC has led the aviation industry in the manufacture of reliable and safe refueling equipment. Our mission is to fuel solutions that exceed customer expectations and ensure team member fulfillment with the highest degree of safety, professionalism and technical expertise. We seek associates that are humble (check your ego at the door), hungry (do what it takes with a sense of urgency), smart (focus on the end user and provide fanatical support), innovative (never stop getting better), and collaborative (work well as part of a team).  

The Mechanical Engineer – Product Development & Design's primary role at BETA Fueling Systems is to take new aviation refueling products from concept through production release — developing concepts against customer requirements, building 3D CAD layouts and complete drawing packages, integrating mechanical, fluid, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical subsystems into a functioning whole, prototyping and testing, and transitioning the design to manufacturing on budget by the scheduled date of completion.

This is a hands-on design role with systems-level ownership: the engineer is expected to think past the individual part to how the full vehicle or skid behaves, and how a component interacts with the controls, the plumbing, the operator, the service technician, and the production floor. Alongside new product work, this person supports internal projects for facilities and manufacturing improvements. Project scope may range from a full new-product drawing package to a day-to-day production line emergency. This position is located in Reidsville, NC.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Own the mechanical design of new products and major product revisions from concept through production release
• Translate customer requirements, market input, and sales proposals into engineering specifications and design criteria
• Develop and evaluate design concepts for performance, reliability, serviceability, cost, and manufacturability; assess feasibility, operating condition effects, and possible new applications
• Build, instrument, and test prototypes; define test plans, capture results, and drive design changes from the data
• Lead design reviews, perform supporting engineering calculations, and document decisions, risks, and open items
• Benchmark vendor and competitor products; estimate labor, material, and production costs and manage launch schedules to budget

DESIGN & DRAFTING

• Design mechanical layouts and systems in 3D CAD (SolidWorks) — parts, high-end parametric models, complex assemblies, and drawings
• Create and maintain complete drawing packages under revision control (SolidWorks PDM); revise existing models and drawings with minimal supervision
• Modify and update schematics in DraftSight or AutoCAD; interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and specifications
• Apply appropriate tolerancing; validate material and component selection, tolerances, performance, cost, and manufacturability
• Create and maintain bills of material, part masters, and raw material records in the Jobscope ERP system
• Develop part build files for automated equipment (waterjet, plasma and plasma pipe cutter, label engraver, CNC lathe) and evolve CAD/drawing best practices and standards

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION & CROSS-FUNCTIONAL EXECUTION

• Own the design at the system level — mechanical, fluid, pneumatic, hydraulic, structural, and electrical interfaces — not just the individual component
• Partner with the Electrical Engineer to integrate control systems, sensors, valves, actuators, and harness routing into the mechanical package; coordinate with the Vessel Engineer on tank interfaces and code-driven constraints
• Carry projects through all phases: spec review with the customer, design, hand-off to manufacturing, and product life-cycle management
• Work cross-functionally with operations, procurement, quality, service, sales, and customers; prioritize the critical few and communicate clearly on roadblocks and status

PRODUCTION, FACILITIES & INTERNAL PROJECTS

• Provide assembly support during builds and support manufacturing engineering through the drawing release process
• Investigate equipment, product, and field failures; recommend design modifications that eliminate malfunctions and improve first-pass yield
• Prepare specifications for material and equipment purchases; correspond with purchasing to procure alternate components as necessary
• Design tooling, fixtures, jigs, guarding, and workholding to improve safety, quality, and throughput
• Support facilities improvement projects — equipment selection and installation, plant layout, material flow, and utility routing — scoping, budgeting, and managing them to completion
• Provide documentation and technical support to field service and sales

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline
• 3–5 years of relevant mechanical design experience in a manufacturing environment, including demonstrated ownership of a product or major subsystem from concept through production release
• Fluent in 3D modeling software (SolidWorks preferred) and proficient in 2D drafting software (DraftSight or AutoCAD)
• Design experience in welded structures and framing, pipe layouts, sheet metal design, and other mechanical systems
• Working understanding of fluid, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems
• Understanding of manufacturing equipment and processes (plasma cutting, waterjet table, CNC lathe, welding, plate bending, CNC tube bending)
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, specifications, and technical manuals, and to estimate cost and budget for a project
• High energy, strong communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and demonstrated success in a team environment
• As-needed travel domestically and abroad

HIGHLY PREFERRED

• Experience with aviation ground support equipment, automotive, heavy truck, or industrial vehicles
• Formal new product development or stage-gate process experience
• Working knowledge of electrical and control systems sufficient to collaborate on integrated designs (PLC, CAN bus, HMI, harnesses, sensors, actuators)
• Stress analysis and computer-assisted FEA; DFM/DFA or tolerance stack-up analysis
• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, and costing as related to stainless steel vs. aluminum vs. carbon steel
• Experience with PDM systems for drawing revision control (i.e., SolidWorks PDM) and ERP systems (i.e., Jobscope)

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Humble (checks their ego at the door), Hungry (does what it takes with a sense of urgency), Customer-centric (provide customer-focused fanatical support), Innovative (never stops getting better), and Collaborative (works well as part of a team). Demonstrates creative thinking and a bias toward building and testing rather than theorizing, with a proven track record of exceeding customer expectations and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

WORKING CONDITIONS

On-site in Reidsville, NC, splitting time between the engineering office and the production floor. Requires familiarity with industrial safety equipment and common protective equipment (safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats); sight, hearing, speech, and written communication capabilities sufficient to interact well with individuals and groups; using hands to handle, control, or feel objects and tools; and the ability to lift and/or move materials up to 50 pounds independently. Ability to climb ladders. 

BETA offers paid time off, nine paid holidays, medical, dental, vision, life, and short-term and long-term disability insurance. We offer a 401(k) plan and flexible spending accounts to help manage your medical expenses. We offer a supportive team environment. Pre-employment drug screen and criminal background check required.

BETA Fueling Systems, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Disclaimer Statement: This job description is not intended, nor should it be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions associated with a particular job. It is intended to be only a general description of the principal requirements common to positions of this type.