Coach and Equipment: Senior Design Engineer – Surface Modeling & Thermoforming Tooling
Source: weworkremotely
Headquarters: Penn Yan New York URL: http://www.coachandequipment.com
Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York state, Coach and Equipment has been one of the best bus builders in America for over 75 years. After 52 years with us, one of our engineering team members will be retiring and we will be adding a new position for our team! We are seeking a:
Senior Design Engineer – Surface Modeling & Thermoforming Tooling
Position Summary
Coach & Equipment is seeking a seasoned Senior Design Engineer with deep expertise in surface modeling using SolidWorks and thermoformed part design, focused on commercial vehicle body components. This position is critical to the design and production of bus and specialty vehicle bodies that are aesthetically refined, aerodynamically optimized, and cost-efficient to manufacture.
The ideal candidate will lead the development of plastic and composite exterior and interior components, ensuring manufacturability and long-term durability in demanding fleet and transit environments. Expertise in managing imported surfaces and tooling tolerances specific to large-format thermoforming is essential.
Key Responsibilities
Product & Surface Modeling
- Create complex and production-ready surface models for bus and vehicle body panels in SolidWorks.
- Translate conceptual surfaces into manufacturable designs with appropriate draft, wall thickness, and mounting features.
- Ensure models integrate seamlessly with chassis structures, subframes, and adjacent systems.
Thermoformed Part Design & Tooling
- Design and optimize thermoforming tooling for large-format plastic and composite parts.
- Manage and interpret imported surface data from various sources.
- Specify and manage tooling tolerances to ensure part quality and fit.
- Collaborate with manufacturing teams to refine designs for efficient production.
Project Management & Collaboration
- Lead design projects from concept through production, managing timelines and deliverables.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers.
- Maintain detailed documentation of designs, processes, and changes.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in surface modeling and thermoformed part design.
- Expert proficiency in SolidWorks and its surface modeling tools.
- Strong understanding of thermoforming processes, materials, and tooling.
- Experience with large-format thermoforming and associated challenges.
- Knowledge of commercial vehicle body design and manufacturing is a plus.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.