Manufacturing / DFM Engineer

Manufacturing / DFM Engineer Steel Fabrication, Automation & Prototype-to-Production Engineering Project Overview We are seeking a manufacturing engineer to make the STEEL ONE Structural Cage-Block practical, repeatable and economical to fabricate.

The role

focuses on Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFM/DFA), fabrication sequencing, fixtures, tolerances and the transition from prototype to scalable production. Primary Responsibilities • Review cage geometry for manufacturability and production cost. • Recommend tube/profile laser, sheet laser, bending, machining, welding and fastening strategies. • Develop tolerance schemes and datum/control-point strategy. • Recommend self-fixturing tabs, slots, jigs and assembly fixtures where appropriate. • Reduce part count, weld length, handling steps and fabrication time. • Plan prototype, pilot and future automated production workflows. • Support supplier/fabricator selection and technical RFQs. Required Qualifications • Hands-on DFM/DFA experience in fabricated steel products. • Experience with laser-cut tube/profile and sheet-metal production. • Strong understanding of MIG/MAG/TIG and robotic welding. • Knowledge of fixtures, jigs, weld distortion and dimensional inspection. • Experience producing BOMs, process plans and fabrication drawings. Preferred Experience • Show examples of fabricated products you helped industrialize. • Describe your experience with tube laser, bending, welding and fixtures. • Provide examples of cost or cycle-time reductions you achieved. • State whether you have worked with prototype shops and contract manufacturers. • Provide hourly rate or Phase 1 fixed-fee proposal. Initial Deliverables • Automation/robotic welding integration. • Lean manufacturing, takt-time and production-line design. • Structural fabrication quality systems and traceability. When Applying • DFM review with prioritized redesign recommendations. • Proposed manufacturing process flow. • Preliminary fixture/tooling strategy. • Tolerance and inspection plan. • Prototype and pilot-production cost drivers. • Roadmap toward scalable production. Confidentiality: STEEL ONE is proprietary and patent-pending technology. Initial discussions should remain non-confidential. Detailed geometry, connection concepts, engineering information and manufacturing details should be shared only after an NDA/IP agreement is in place. Engagement structure: Milestone-based.The first phase should focus on review, technical critique and a clearly defined development plan before deeper engineering work begins.