Mechanical Engineer, Product Development

Mechanical Engineer, Production Development

Location: Ann Arbor, MI (Required)

Company & Position Overview:
J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting over $2.5B in annual revenues and employing over 8,000 team members. The six operating subsidiaries, covering 60 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, and expandable foam plastic packaging. For more information, visit https://www.jbpoindexter.com.
We are the Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization within JB Poindexter & Co., supporting nine business units across the company’s portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions spanning Class 1–7 vehicles. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets.
We operate in a highly dynamic, project-based environment, managing programs ranging from rapid development cycles (weeks) to complex, multi-year product launches, while partnering closely with business units, customers, and suppliers to bring fresh solutions to market.
We are seeking a versatile and hands-on Mechanical Engineer with 2 – 4 years of experience to join our Corporate Engineering team. You will serve as an internal centralized engineering resource supporting multiple businesses across our organization, working on a wide range of product development projects. While the primary focus is commercial truck bodies, you will also support one-off accessory designs and custom engineering requests for testing and manufacturing—ideal for an engineer who enjoys variety and is not locked into a narrow specialty.
This role blends design, analysis, prototyping, manufacturing support, supplier interaction, and customer engagement. We are looking for a well-rounded engineer who thrives in both CAD and hands-on shop environments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Product Development & Design• Lead and contribute to the design of commercial truck bodies and related mechanical systems.• Support custom accessories, retrofit, and specialty engineering projects across multiple business units.• Develop 3D models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.• Apply GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and proper documentation practices.
Engineering Analysis• Perform structural and mechanical simulations (i.e., FEA).• Evaluate designs for durability in heavy-duty, high-vibration, and high-load environments.• Use sound engineering principles to ensure reliability, manufacturability, and safety.• Competitive benchmarking activities, reverse engineering, VAVE
Manufacturing, Prototyping & 3D Printing• Work closely with in-house prototype and fabrication teams to ensure manufacturable designs.• Provide DFM guidance for production processes and manufacturing lines.• Participate in hands-on prototype builds, fit checks, and validation activities.• Utilize 3D printing for prototyping, concept evaluation, fixtures, or low-volume components.• Incorporate additive manufacturing constraints and capabilities into design work when applicable.