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:
Experience:
- Engineering: 4 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Cokato, MN 55321 (Required)
Work Location: In person
