Design Engineer Team Lead

Design Engineering Team Lead

Job Overview:

A Design Engineer Team Leader with Bastian Automation is responsible for leading, developing, and prioritizing the work of Design Engineers while also providing hands-on technical leadership in support of customer projects and engineered solutions. This role collaborates with coworkers, customers, and suppliers to utilize the latest technologies while creating equipment designs for integration into distribution, production solutions, and other material handling components/units.

The Design Engineer Team Leader provides technical direction, promotes consistency in design standards and processes, and helps ensure engineering resources are aligned with project schedules, customer requirements, and business priorities. This role balances technical design responsibilities with people leadership, mentoring team members while supporting the successful execution of projects from concept through manufacturing, installation, and startup.

Job Functions:

People & Team Leadership

• Directly lead and mentor Design Engineers, including workload prioritization, coaching, performance feedback, and development planning
• Coordinate and prioritize Design Engineering resources based on project schedules, customer needs, workload, and business priorities
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and development of Design Engineers
• Support the technical and professional growth of Design Engineers through knowledge sharing, coaching, and mentoring
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence
• Promote effective communication and teamwork within Design Engineering and across other departments

Technical & Design Leadership

• Provide technical direction and oversight throughout equipment and system design activities
• Modify, critique, review, and release equipment designs per customer and Bastian specifications and standards
• Ensure consistent application of engineering standards, design best practices, documentation requirements, and established processes across the team
• Support Design Engineers in resolving complex technical and design-related challenges
• Review design changes and ensure modifications are appropriately documented and communicated to impacted teams
• Create and oversee the development of detailed installation and layout drawings
• Troubleshoot and modify manufactured equipment, creating red line drawings and updating SolidWorks models and drawings to create accurate As-Built packages prior to shipment
• Coordinate with other engineers or teams to ensure all components and requirements are accounted for across engineering disciplines

Engineering Tools, Technology & Standards

• Collaborate with Automation, Controls, and Commissioning Engineers to create 3D layouts for system studies
• Research new components, materials, technologies, and design methods and provide recommendations for adoption into Bastian standards
• Identify opportunities to improve Design Engineering tools, processes, templates, standards, and documentation
• Promote standardization and reuse of proven design concepts where appropriate
• Attend training and become certified in applicable technologies or programs
• Create and modify mechanical manuals, preventative maintenance schedules and tasks, and troubleshooting guides
• Review technical documentation to promote accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established engineering standards

Project & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Act as a key Design Engineering point of contact for Project Management, Manufacturing, Controls, Automation, Commissioning, Supply Chain, and other internal teams
• Communicate Design Engineering priorities, project risks, resource constraints, schedules, and progress to appropriate leadership and project stakeholders
• Support critical or high-priority projects by aligning Design Engineering resources with project schedules and customer needs
• Coordinate Design Engineering activities with other disciplines to support successful project execution
• Effectively communicate schedules, design concepts, expectations, and training to personnel at Bastian and end-user facilities
• Support project installations and post-startup mechanical maintenance trips
• Deliver projects that meet or exceed customer expectations and contribute to the development of repeat customers
• Attend meetings and functions on time with active involvement
• Be a team member and contributor within the office, providing help outside of department scope when required

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure Design Engineering activities adhere to applicable Bastian standards, customer specifications, and engineering requirements
• Promote designs that consider safe manufacturing, assembly, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment
• Identify and address design-related risks that could impact equipment quality, functionality, manufacturability, or installation
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, and other teams to resolve design-related issues identified during fabrication, assembly, testing, installation, or startup
• Ensure engineering documentation and released designs accurately reflect approved project requirements
• Employees must follow all information security policies, protect confidential data, complete required training, and report any suspected security incidents to support our information security controls

Continuous Improvement & Team Strategy

• Lead and support continuous improvement efforts related to Design Engineering processes, standards, quality, efficiency, and execution
• Identify recurring design challenges, inefficiencies, or process gaps and coordinate sustainable solutions
• Encourage lessons learned and knowledge sharing across the Design Engineering team
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering efficiency, design quality, manufacturability, and project execution
• Support the development and implementation of Design Engineering standards and best practices
• Assist leadership with Design Engineering resource planning, workload forecasting, team capability development, and scalability initiatives
• Perform Design Engineering responsibilities as necessary to support project execution and overall team workload

Travel Requirements:

• Less than 5% travel (Travel expenses paid by Bastian Automation)

Required Qualifications and Preferred Skills:

• 5+ years experience in an Engineering Design/Development role preferred
• Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology highly preferred
• Experience leading, mentoring, or providing technical direction to engineers or other technical team members
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work and coordinate engineering resources across multiple projects and competing priorities
• Strong mechanical design, problem-solving, and troubleshooting abilities
• Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to effectively work across multiple departments and disciplines
• Technical writing and documentation experience is highly preferred
• Experience reviewing engineering designs and ensuring adherence to established standards and specifications
• Microsoft Office products experience
• AutoCAD experience
• SolidWorks experience
• Experience within material handling, automation, custom equipment, or related engineered systems is preferred
• Must be eligible to work in the USA long term without sponsorship
• Employees must follow all information security policies, protect confidential data, complete required training, and report any suspected security incidents to support our information security controls.

About Bastian Automation:

Bastian is a trusted material handling automation integrator supporting distribution and manufacturing operations across the automotive, aerospace, tire and wheel, and other related industries – helping them work smarter, scale faster, and deliver with confidence.

In addition to exciting work at a growing company, we offer the following benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a company match
• Vacation / Holiday Pay
• Paid Volunteer time off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Associations, Conferences and Subscriptions
• Company Meetings & Events

Bastian Automation does not work with outside recruiting agencies. No solicitation phone calls please.