Design Engineer Lead

Join our Toyota Material Handling Team as a DESIGN ENGINEER LEAD!!

The Role:

We’re seeking a passionate and dedicated Design Engineer Lead to join our team. In this role within the Design & Custom Engineering group, you’ll be involved with creating design packages for specific requests to customize industrial vehicles based on the needs of certain industries or requirements specific to the materials being handled. Priority of this role will be checking the work of other engineers in the group and verifying compliance with internal design and regulatory standards in the Design/Custom Engineering (CE) group will be responsible for scheduling and assignments, designing, modeling, analyzing, and verifying documentation for new components and systems for industrial vehicles. Reviewing order-specific engineering bills of materials and engineering change instructions for those special design packages will be the main daily activities in this role. A strong engineering background and education to support growing subject matter expertise across electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical disciplines and forklift systems is important for this role. The ability to support any design issues with technical hands-on skills for troubleshooting or confirmation of fit and function on production vehicles will be important in this role. The Design Engineer Lead will be expected to support our internal customers for CE Group and communicate to both technical and broader audiences effectively, verbally and in writing. Both internal combustion and battery/electric vehicle designs will be applicable, and the engineer should be capable of designing and developing for both.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Review dealer requests (TSDRs) to evaluate scope, feasibility, and completeness of design requirements and commitments.
• Review and validate 3D models, 2D drawings, bills of materials, and engineering documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance with established standards.
• Ensure designs meet engineering, testing, quality, and regulatory requirements prior to release and implementation.
• Serve as the technical authority for design release readiness within the Custom Engineering team.
• Prioritize, assign, and coordinate TSDR work activities for Design Engineers, establishing clear expectations, timelines, and deliverables.
• Monitor project progress and workload distribution to support on-time completion and alignment with production schedules.
• Lead design projects through the entire development lifecycle, from concept and design through production implementation and continuous improvement activities.
• Conduct First Product Lockout Inspections to verify design integrity and production readiness for new products and configurations.
• Lead pilot builds and validation activities for complex Custom Engineering projects.
• Provide hands-on technical support during production launches, including troubleshooting, validation, and issue resolution.
• Assess designs for testing readiness and compliance with applicable regulatory and performance requirements.
• Collaborate with testing, regulatory, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to ensure successful product implementation and launch.
• Mentor, train, and provide technical guidance to Design Engineers to support skill development and engineering excellence.
• Coordinate team activities and contribute to employee performance development through coaching and ongoing support.
• Support Kaizen, Hoshin, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance processes, quality, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Maintain a strong commitment to workplace safety and perform all responsibilities in a safe and compliant manner.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related degree programs.
• 2+ years of experience post-graduate engineering in the above-mentioned fields and with exposure to a manufacturing environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong technical aptitude, analytical problem-solving, time management, and organizational skills.
• Strategic, creative, positive attitude, team-oriented, self-motivated, and critical thinker.
• Ability to constructively interface with all levels of the organization.
• Superior attention to detail and standards of quality.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.

Where and When You’ll Work:

• This is an in-person role located at our Columbus, IN office—ideal for those who thrive in a hands-on, team-oriented environment.

What Your Total Compensation & Benefits Package will look like:

Salary - $83,340 - $106,845 per year. Compensation depends on the selected candidate’s education and experience.

Relocation: This role may be eligible for relocation assistance.

World Class Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Performance Bonus
• Generous Paid Time Off and 13 Paid Holidays
• Affordable Medical plans and no-cost Dental & Vision options
• 100% 401(k) match up to 6%
• Company-Paid Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with access to mental health care, legal support, and financial guidance
• Recognition and Kaizen (continuous improvement) Reward Programs
• Meaningful opportunities for personal and professional development
• Onsite Fitness Center & Occupational Health Clinic
• Best in class work culture!

Big Name | Big Opportunities | Life is Better at Toyota

Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA), the industry leader in forklift sales, comprises two main brands: Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation. We believe investing in the best people, products, and processes will fuel our future success, and we will always be driven by our foundational principles of “respect for people” and “continuous improvement”. With opportunities across North America, we are confident you will find the right position within TMHNA that can help you build a long, fulfilling career.

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