JOB DETAILS

Mechanical Engineer - Product Design & Development (Entry Level)

CompanyValley Craft Industries Inc
LocationLake City
Work ModeOn Site
PostedJuly 30, 2026
About The Company
Valley Craft Industries designs, develops and manufactures professional grade material handling, drum handling, and storage solutions, including a broad array of proprietary and custom products. Valley Craft was established in 1953 when Carl Weinmann introduced the first hand truck with a brake. Over the last six decades, Valley Craft has grown to become a world class manufacturer known for its expertise in producing rugged and versatile hand trucks, carts, trailers, portable lifts, hydraulic drum handling devices, and storage equipment. At Valley Craft, we take pride in our heritage of building high quality American-made products to handle and store materials more safely, more securely, and more efficiently. On the shores of beautiful Lake Pepin, in Lake City, Minnesota, Valley Craft is staffed by a committed and loyal team of employees -- fully one-third of our associates have been with the company for more than 25 years. We think, feel, and act like a family and, like a family, we share core values: Respect, Integrity, Openness, Enthusiasm, and Commitment. A family company since its inception more than 60 years ago, Valley Craft is currently led by its third private owner - Minnesota businessman Dennis Campbell, who acquired substantially all of the assets of Valley Craft Inc. from Liberty Diversified International in 2012.
About the Role

Description

  

Valley Craft is seeking an entry-level Mechanical Engineer to support the design, development, and production of material handling, storage, and safety related products. This role is ideal for a hands-on engineer early in their career who wants exposure to real production hardware, manufacturing support, and product lifecycle ownership. The position emphasizes practical engineering execution, collaboration with manufacturing, and continuous product improvement.

Requirements

  

Key Responsibilities: 


Product Design & Engineering Execution

  • Design and engineer new products and custom solutions
  • Support existing product designs through design updates, documentation changes, and production support
  • Assist with engineering change requests (ECRs/ECOs) and implementation into production
  • Help diagnose production, quality, or field issues and support corrective actions.


CAD, BOM, and Documentation

  • Create and update 3D models, drawings, and BOMs using SolidWorks
  • Apply company drawing standards, tolerances, weld symbols, and basic GD&T
  • Maintain accurate part data, revisions, and metadata in PDM and MRP systems

Manufacturing & Shop Collaboration

  • Work closely with fabrication, welding, assembly, and quality teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and buildable
  • Support fixture design and basic prototyping as needed
  • Identify potential pinch points, cut hazards, or ergonomic concerns early and help implement improvements

Continuous Improvement

  • Participate in root-cause analysis and problem-solving efforts

Qualifications Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
  • Familiarity with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software
  • Basic understanding of manufacturing processes (welding, machining, sheet metal, fabrication)
  • Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn
  • Good written and verbal communication skills

Qualifications Preferred

  • Internship, co-op, or hands-on experience in a manufacturing or fabrication environment
  • Exposure to lift products, material-handling equipment, or industrial machinery
  • Familiarity with BOMs, revision control, and engineering documentation

Key Attributes for Success

  • Hands-On Mindset: Interested in how products are built, not just designed.
  • Team-Oriented: Works well with manufacturing, quality, and procurement partners.
  • Adaptable: Comfortable handling shifting priorities in a production environment.
  • Detail-Focused: Understands that accurate documentation prevents downstream issues.
  • Growth-Oriented: Eager to build engineering judgment through real-world experience.
Key Skills
Mechanical EngineeringSolidWorks3D CADManufacturing ProcessesWeldingMachiningSheet MetalFabricationBOM ManagementEngineering DocumentationGD&TRoot-cause AnalysisProduct DesignPrototypingTechnical DrawingPDM
Categories
EngineeringManufacturing
Job Information
📋Core Responsibilities
The mechanical engineer will design and develop new products while supporting existing production through engineering changes and documentation. They will collaborate closely with shop floor teams to ensure manufacturability and resolve quality or field issues.
📋Job Type
full time
💰Salary Range
$60,000 - $65,000
📊Experience Level
0-2
💼Company Size
41
📊Visa Sponsorship
No
💼Language
English
🏢Working Hours
40 hours
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