Design Engineer (Manager)

Design Engineer Manager
Location: Manhattan, NYC (Chelsea)
Type: Full-time, In-Person
Compensation: $80,000–$95,000 base, with eligibility for up to a 10% bonus based on company and individual performance

About the Role

We are seeking a Design Engineer Manager to lead and contribute to the growth of our New York-based architectural lighting manufacturing operation. This is a hands-on role that combines technical engineering/design expertise with managerial responsibilities.

In addition to producing technical drawings and refining processes, you will oversee at least one direct report, help shape workflows, and collaborate cross-functionally with production, procurement, and sales teams. This is a great opportunity for someone who has experience in design engineering and is either already managing a small team or interested in growing into a leadership role.

You will be based out of our Manhattan office with periodic visits to our factory in Mineola, NY.

You Will…

Lead engineering design tasks and manage at least one direct report, including oversight of their project timelines and deliverables
Create shop drawings for internal use and external vendors
Develop and maintain BoMs and manage inventory using Fishbowl (required)
Coordinate with procurement to ensure timely material sourcing, maintain production schedules, and troubleshoot supply chain issues
Collaborate with internal teams to develop and maintain manufacturing documentation (e.g., installation guides, spec sheets, wiring diagrams)
Work directly with clients and vendors on technical solutions, feasibility, and timelines
Monitor, update, and assign engineering tasks using Monday.com
Evaluate and improve engineering and manufacturing processes for quality and efficiency
Serve as a point of contact for cross-functional coordination between engineering, production, and customer support
Oversee day-to-day operational workflows related to production scheduling, order fulfillment, and quality assurance.
Analyze operational bottlenecks and implement process improvements to reduce lead times and improve output consistency.
Track key production and delivery metrics to ensure projects meet cost, quality, and timeline targets.
Partner with the factory team to coordinate capacity planning, resource allocation, and production priorities.
Ensure operational compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards.

You’ll Be a Great Fit If You…

Have 2–5 years of experience in a mechanical design or engineering role in a manufacturing or product development setting
Are a strong Solidworks user, especially in Assemblies, Mates, Design Tables, Asset Publisher, and Drawings
Have leadership experience or demonstrate readiness to manage others and grow into a management track
Have a working knowledge of Fishbowl MRP/ERP systems (preferred) and Monday.com (preferred)
Are comfortable communicating with vendors and managing procurement timelines
Are fluent in Excel formulas such as VLOOKUP, CONCAT, and pivot tables
Thrive in a fast-paced environment and are comfortable balancing both design and operations work

Bonus Points for Having Experience In…

Architectural lighting or custom fabrication
Regulatory testing and compliance (UL, ETL, etc.)
KeyShot, Blender, InDesign, Illustrator
Electronics or microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
Hands-on fabrication, soldering, and use of basic power tools