NPD Design Engineer - Portable & Stationary Plants

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Astec is a global, environmentally focused infrastructure and manufacturing company of asphalt road building and aggregate processing equipment. Our mission is to design and build the most innovative products for the industries we serve. Leveraging innovative solutions and technologies, we serve customers all over the world.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Under general supervision of the NPD Engineering Manager, the NPD Design Engineer is responsible for design efforts from inception through production in new product development.
This position will focus on Stationary Plants and Wheeled Portable Plants. Plants are pre-engineered crushing and screening systems, which have been and packaged for efficient mobility, set-up and processing of aggregates and minerals. They incorporate various crushers, feeders, screens, wash equipment, conveyors, drives, et cetera, onto an engineered structure for an optimal and cohesive system.
The engineering position will require attendance at one of the Astec Material Solutions facilities. Applicants from all Astec locations are encouraged to apply.
The Design Engineer position at Astec has four (4) levels dependent on experience and specialty. There are engineers who specialize in new and existing product development/design, product safety, manufacturing set-up, hydraulic and electrical product development/design. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with other engineers, cross-functional teams not limited to sales, manufacturing, purchasing, and service. They will develop conceptual and final design solutions, manage and coordinate project activities, support existing product offerings, and perform testing or analysis of new and existing products to further Astec's product line development goals.
Design Engineers can be asked to travel to develop business relationships with customers, dealers, and suppliers. They may also participate in product focus groups to gain critical customer application and design suggestions to assist in the development of the product lines.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but not limited to )

• Perform design engineering as is relates to Astec product development and improvement projects.
• Effectively use 3-D CAD to model designs and use other engineering tools like FEA to optimize solutions
• Create, check and maintain thorough engineering specifications and drawings
• Manage engineering changes per establish company procedures
• Be a technical resource as needed to support other departmental needs such as operations, quality, purchasing, service, et cetera

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY

• None

INTERNAL CONTROLS AUTHORITY

• Design Engineer is responsible for certain internal control responsibilities. These internal control responsibilities have been verbally communicated to the Design Engineer and periodic feedback is provided as it relates to the performance of these internal control responsibilities.

MINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Job-related Skills and Abilities

• Maintain positive, cooperative working relationships by working, interacting, and communicating with various personalities, getting along with customers, vendors, co-workers and management, working both individually and as part of a team

• Use interpersonal skills to an be effective member of cross-functional project teams from concept to testing, and ultimately to production
• Demonstrate technical and written skills to document ideas, designs and concepts

• Proficient with personal computing, Microsoft Office Suite, 3-D CAD software applications (SolidWorks preferred) and ERP systems (Oracle preferred)
• Good organization and time-management skills
• Ability to set daily priorities and adjust to sudden changes in project/priority and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a positive fashion
• Willingness to accept responsibility for assigned tasks and take on new challenges
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on a customary and regular basis

• Effectively work with sketches, marked-up prints and verbal instructions to drive concept to solution
• Review customer drawings, specification drawings, and other applicable specifications to determine requirement and/or feasibility of component
• Develop design concepts to meet required cost objectives including involvement with supply chain operations to provide technical information for the selection of components.
• Ability to develop and/or guide necessary computations such as load development, stress analysis, performance measurement, hydraulic circuit analysis, costing, etc. and interpret the results as necessary
• Responsible for achieving due dates and pre-defined requirements defined by management
• Interact with production personnel to define and solve manufacturing and/or design issues and implement cost reduction ideas with regards to the product

• Use root cause analysis and other problem-solving skills to determine opportunities to improve products and implement corrective actions.

• Follow internal company standards when creating or inputting data

• Follow and actively support all company policies and procedures, to include a primary emphasis on safe operations
• Follow Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity program guidelines at all times
• Perform work according to supervisor's directives when requested
• Document assigned tasks as required

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations
• Ability to write effective reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public

Math Skills

• Ability to comprehend and apply principles of modern algebra, analytical geometry and trigonometry

Reasoning Ability Skills

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables

Levels of Design Engineer Position
Levels will be determined based on education, experience and equivalents.

• Design Engineer I

Experience/Knowledge

• Understanding/experience with the engineering design process and new product development.
• Use of CAD modelling and simulation software
• Ability to read, interpret and create engineering drawings and standards.
• Understanding of materials, materials sciences and material properties as they relate to engineering decisions and materials selection.
• Ability to make a financial and technical case for engineering design decisions
• Understanding of manufacturing practices including cutting, forming and welding of metals
• Ability to work effectively on cross functional teams

Education

• Minimum of bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Agriculture, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering or related field

• Design Engineer II

• Must meet minimum education and experience requirements of Design Engineer I
• Minimum 3 years' experience in equipment design and manufacturing (mechanical, structural, hydraulic and electrical/control system design)

• Design Engineer III

• Must meet minimum education and experience requirements of Design Engineer I
• Minimum 5 years' experience in equipment design and manufacturing (mechanical, structural, hydraulic and electrical/control system design)

• Design Engineer IV

• Must meet minimum education and experience requirements of Design Engineer III
• Minimum five (5) years' experience designing Astec-specific equipment

SAFETY
Astec is dedicated to a culture of Behavior Based SAFETY and a Healthy Environment!

• Proficient in promoting safe and healthy work environment
• Notify supervisor of product discrepancies or equipment malfunctions
• Adhere to established company policies and procedures paying special attention to safety regulations
• Report defective materials, equipment, or questionable conditions to the supervisor/manager to identify and correct the root cause
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with training guidelines

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position a minimum of 50% of the time, move and frequently operate a computer and other office equipment and occasionally properly employ objects, tools and/or controls. The employee is frequently required to communicate and exchange accurate information. The employee is regularly required to reach and occasionally attain non-standard physical positions for varying amounts of time. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
The employee must regularly transport up to 10 pounds and occasionally transport up to 25 pounds. Lifting devices must be used or help must be requested for anything over 25 pounds.
Required to occasionally ascend/descend, balance and work at various heights.
Ability to travel by land and/or air for extended periods of time.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Our Culture and Values
Employees that become part of Astec embody the values below throughout their work.

• Continuous devotion to meeting the needs of our customers
• Honesty and integrity in all aspects of business
• Respect for all individuals
• Preserving entrepreneurial spirit and innovation
• Safety, quality and productivity as means to ensure success

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a climate-controlled office environment and is occasionally exposed to a shop manufacturing environment.
Office environment exposures include frequent and extensive telephone and computer use. The noise level in the office setting is usually moderate consistent with an office environment.
Shop manufacturing environment exposures include exposure to moving mechanical parts, machinery, tools and equipment, vibration, fumes or airborne particles, motorized vehicles, welding and machining operations, outside weather conditions and exposure to the risk of electric shock. The employee may occasionally be exposed to varying levels of dirt, dust, toxic or caustic chemicals, very warm and/or very chilly temperatures. The noise level in the shop can be very loud at times consistent with an industrial assembly facility and may require hearing protection.
Mines, road construction and forestry job site exposures include exposure to climate conditions indicative of the geographic location and the season. Field duties require that the employee work in close proximity to heavy roadbuilding and construction equipment (dump trucks, loaders, cranes, crushers, pavers, cold planers, material transfer vehicles, stabilizers, wheel loaders, excavators, skidders, feller buncher, chippers, grinders etc.) and traffic associated with mines, road construction, forestry and recycling sites. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals, vibration and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in this environment is usually loud and may require hearing protection.
The employee is occasionally exposed to travel hazards associated with automobile and/or airplane travel.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Astec does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender (sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, citizenship status, a person's veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law or executive order.