Product Design Engineer Jobs in Michigan
Product Design Engineer jobs in Michigan are among the most active in the country, concentrated in automotive, advanced manufacturing, and consumer durables across the full spectrum from entry-level roles through senior principal positions. Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids account for the heaviest hiring, with long-established employers such as Ford Motor Company, Stellantis, and Whirlpool Corporation consistently filling product design engineer openings. The most in-demand specialties are CAD-driven mechanical design, plastics and tooling development, and design for manufacturability. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 18+ Product Design Engineer jobs
Product Design Engineer – Steering Systems
Location: Hopkinsville, KY
Position Type: Full-Time
Job Description
The Product Design Engineer is responsible for the design, development, validation, and release of steering column systems and related components from concept through production. This role collaborates closely with customers, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams to develop products that meet safety, quality, cost, and timing objectives.
The Product Design Engineer supports new product launches, engineering changes, product validation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance with customer requirements and internal engineering standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop steering column assemblies and components from concept through production release.
- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, Bills of Material (BOMs), and engineering documentation.
- Review customer drawings, specifications, and requirements to ensure design compliance.
- Perform engineering analyses including GD&T development, tolerance stack-ups, and design feasibility evaluations.
- Support prototype builds, product testing, validation activities, and production launches.
- Develop and maintain DVP&R documentation and engineering reports.
- Work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Program Management, and Suppliers.
- Support APQP, PPAP, and DFMEA activities.
- Initiate and implement Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
- Participate in root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support cost reduction and value engineering projects.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Experience with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
- Understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in automotive product development.
- Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, DVP&R, and Engineering Change Management processes.
- Experience with tolerance stack-up analysis.
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes including machining, welding, stamping, assembly, and injection molding.
- Knowledge of IATF 16949 automotive quality standards.
Technical Skills
- 3D CAD Modeling (SolidWorks Preferred)
- GD&T
- Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis
- Engineering Documentation and Product Release
- APQP / PPAP
- DFMEA
- DVP&R
- Engineering Change Management
- Root Cause Analysis
- Microsoft Office Suite
Travel
Occasional travel to customer and supplier locations may be required.
JTEKT Column Systems North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Product Design Engineer – Steering Systems
Location: Hopkinsville, KY
Position Type: Full-Time
Job Description
The Product Design Engineer is responsible for the design, development, validation, and release of steering column systems and related components from concept through production. This role collaborates closely with customers, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams to develop products that meet safety, quality, cost, and timing objectives.
The Product Design Engineer supports new product launches, engineering changes, product validation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance with customer requirements and internal engineering standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop steering column assemblies and components from concept through production release.
- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, Bills of Material (BOMs), and engineering documentation.
- Review customer drawings, specifications, and requirements to ensure design compliance.
- Perform engineering analyses including GD&T development, tolerance stack-ups, and design feasibility evaluations.
- Support prototype builds, product testing, validation activities, and production launches.
- Develop and maintain DVP&R documentation and engineering reports.
- Work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Program Management, and Suppliers.
- Support APQP, PPAP, and DFMEA activities.
- Initiate and implement Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
- Participate in root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support cost reduction and value engineering projects.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Experience with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
- Understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in automotive product development.
- Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, DVP&R, and Engineering Change Management processes.
- Experience with tolerance stack-up analysis.
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes including machining, welding, stamping, assembly, and injection molding.
- Knowledge of IATF 16949 automotive quality standards.
Technical Skills
- 3D CAD Modeling (SolidWorks Preferred)
- GD&T
- Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis
- Engineering Documentation and Product Release
- APQP / PPAP
- DFMEA
- DVP&R
- Engineering Change Management
- Root Cause Analysis
- Microsoft Office Suite
Travel
Occasional travel to customer and supplier locations may be required.
JTEKT Column Systems North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
See All 18 Product Design Engineer Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Engineer JobsProduct Design Engineer Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Product Design Engineer Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in product design engineer jobs across Michigan.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, industrial design, or a closely related engineering field
- Proficiency in 3D CAD software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, or NX for part and assembly modeling
- Experience with GD&T, engineering drawings, and design-for-manufacturability principles
- Familiarity with automotive or consumer product development cycles and DFMEA processes
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, tooling, and quality
- Knowledge of material selection, plastics, metals, or composites relevant to Michigan's manufacturing base
Product Design Engineer Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a product design engineer in Michigan?
Most product design engineer roles in Michigan require a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, industrial design, or a related engineering discipline. Michigan does not require a state-issued license specifically for product design engineers in private industry, though engineers who stamp drawings for public projects may pursue licensure through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. In practice, hiring managers in Michigan's automotive and manufacturing sectors prioritize CAD proficiency, internship experience with a Michigan OEM or supplier, and a portfolio demonstrating real product development work.
Which companies hire product design engineers in Michigan?
Employers hiring product design engineers in Michigan right now include Stellantis, Molex, and Mann+Hummel, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Michigan's deep automotive supply chain means both global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers such as Lear, BorgWarner, and Gentex are consistent sources of openings alongside consumer-goods manufacturers in the Grand Rapids corridor.
Which Michigan cities have the most product design engineer jobs?
The cities with the most product design engineer openings in Michigan are Auburn Hills, Auburn, and Monroe. Detroit and its surrounding suburbs dominate because the region is home to the headquarters and major technical centers of the domestic automotive industry, while Ann Arbor adds university-linked research and mobility startup activity, and Grand Rapids draws openings from its established concentration of appliance, office furniture, and consumer products manufacturers.
Are there remote product design engineer jobs in Michigan?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, because product design engineering regularly involves hands-on prototype review, lab access, and factory floor collaboration. About 33% of product design engineer openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and the portions most suited to remote work are upstream concept development, CAD modeling, and design documentation rather than validation or launch-phase activities.
How can I get hired as a product design engineer in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a co-op or internship through Michigan's engineering universities, particularly the University of Michigan, Michigan State, or Michigan Technological University, which have structured pipelines directly into Ford, GM, Stellantis, and major Tier 1 suppliers. Candidates without a degree can pursue associate-level roles such as CAD technician or product development technician as a bridge. A strong SolidWorks or CATIA portfolio and any exposure to DFMEA or GD&T in coursework or personal projects gives an edge in Michigan's competitive automotive-focused hiring market.
Where can I find and apply to product design engineer jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to product design engineer jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings updated in real time. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 18 Product Design Engineer Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Engineer Jobs