Lead Manufacturing Designer

Outshaped | Cokato, MN

On-site position. Remote work is not available.

The Opportunity

Outshaped is looking for a Lead Manufacturing Designer to take ownership of our design department and help scale its capabilities as we grow.

This role is responsible for more than producing great CAD models. The Lead Designer is accountable for design quality, manufacturability, department workflow, project prioritization, and the overall effectiveness of the design team.

You will lead a small team of designers and drafters while remaining actively involved in complex projects. Your primary responsibility is ensuring the design department consistently delivers production-ready work that supports machining, assembly, finishing, scheduling, and profitability.

We are looking for someone who enjoys solving manufacturing challenges, improving systems, mentoring others, and driving results through a team—not someone who only wants to work independently on their own projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

Design Department Leadership

Lead and develop the design team
Prioritize and distribute workload across designers and drafters
Monitor project status, deadlines, and department capacity
Review work before release to production
Establish accountability for design quality and accuracy
Train, mentor, and elevate team capabilities
Create and maintain design standards, workflows, and best practices

Production & Manufacturability Ownership

Serve as the primary Design for Manufacturing (DFM) resource
Determine machining, assembly, and production strategies
Review incoming customer models and concepts
Develop part splits, alignment systems, reinforcement methods, and assembly features
Resolve manufacturability concerns before projects reach the shop floor
Work directly with programming, machining, assembly, and finishing teams

Continuous Improvement

Identify recurring design-related production issues
Reduce rework, confusion, and inefficiencies
Improve handoffs between design and production
Develop repeatable methods that improve throughput and consistency
Help build a scalable design department capable of supporting future growth

Project Execution

Personally own complex or high-priority projects
Support designers on difficult technical challenges
Assist with customer reviews and technical discussions when required

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is measured by the performance of the department, not just individual project output.

A successful Lead Designer will:

Improve design team throughput
Improve design quality and consistency
Reduce production rework and shop questions
Improve machining and assembly efficiency
Deliver projects to production faster
Reduce dependency on ownership for design decisions
Build a stronger and more capable design team

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has experience leading technical teams in manufacturing, fabrication, tooling, CNC, or custom production environments.

You understand how things are actually built and enjoy helping others improve. You are comfortable making decisions, holding standards, balancing workloads, and solving production problems before they become expensive.

You likely have experience as a senior designer, manufacturing engineer, tooling designer, fabrication engineer, or technical lead and are ready to take ownership of a department rather than only your own projects.

Required Skills

Advanced SolidWorks proficiency
Strong Design for Manufacturing (DFM) experience
CNC machining and fabrication knowledge
Experience leading projects or technical teams
Strong communication and organizational skills
Ability to balance hands-on design work with team leadership

Preferred Experience

Tooling, mold, pattern, or custom fabrication design
Complex surfacing and large assemblies
Scan data and mesh cleanup
Workflow development and process improvement
Team leadership, mentoring, or department management

Why This Role Matters

The Lead Designer sits at the center of how Outshaped turns ideas into finished products.

This position directly influences production efficiency, project profitability, team development, and the company's ability to grow. The right person will have significant ownership, autonomy, and influence over how the design department operates moving forward.

Pay: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Education:

Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

Engineering: 4 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

Cokato, MN 55321 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Outshaped

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Lead Manufacturing Designer