Product Design Engineer – Digital Fabrication

What we offer

Vanlife Customs is a digital‑first design and manufacturing company that builds premium custom van interiors, systems, and components. You will design in 3D, prototype rapidly, and manufacture in‑house using CNC routers, laser cutters, laser welding, 3D printing, 3D scanning, and traditional fabrication and woodworking processes. This onsite role in Arvada, Colorado provides a direct connection between design and outcome as your work is cut, assembled, installed, tested, revised, and used in real customer vehicles. Close collaboration between design and installation teams is central to our approach. Salary: USD 70,000 – 85,000 per year.

Responsibilities

• Turn loosely defined ideas and practical requirements into install‑ready solutions for our custom cabinetry and wall, ceiling, and floor panel systems.
• Own a design from initial requirements through modeling, prototype, design review, manufacturing release, installation, and revision.
• Collaborate with fabricators, installers, project managers, and customers to address fit, function, manufacturability, durability, aesthetics, and serviceability.
• Strengthen design systems and technical standards while maintaining a close connection to prototyping, fabrication, and installation.
• Design cabinetry systems, mounting structures, electrical enclosures, modular storage systems, vehicle interfaces, fixtures, production tooling, and new product concepts.
• Ensure designs are clearly communicated and ready for manufacturing, installation, and service.
• Make decisions about materials, tolerances, hardware, fabrication methods, and component interfaces.
• Create reusable design systems and standards where they add value.
• Mentor less‑experienced teammates through collaboration, review, and example.
• Balance quality, speed, cost, and complexity in design work while remaining hands‑on.

Requirements

• Substantial professional experience developing physical products, fabricated assemblies, vehicle components, cabinetry systems, industrial equipment, or similar items.
• Strong parametric 3D CAD skills; Fusion 360 experience is preferred.
• Ability to produce production‑ready models, assemblies, drawings, and manufacturing information.
• A degree in engineering, industrial design, product design, or a related discipline is valuable but not mandatory.
• Demonstrated judgment, technical capability, and a strong portfolio of built work matter more than credentials alone.
• Understanding of design‑for‑manufacture and design‑for‑assembly principles.
• Experience with CNC processes, sheet goods, plastics, composites, metals, hardware, fasteners, or fabricated assemblies.
• Ability to move effectively between detailed CAD work and hands‑on prototype evaluation.
• Comfort with progress when requirements are incomplete or evolving.
• Know when greater precision is necessary and when a simpler solution is better.
• Treat fabricators and installers as partners in the design process and communicate technical decisions clearly without ego.
• Enjoy mentoring through collaboration, review, and example rather than formal authority.
• A desire to remain a hands‑on technical contributor while influencing how products are developed.

Technologies

Fusion 360

About the role

We seek an experienced design engineer who can translate loosely defined ideas into thoughtful, install‑ready solutions, especially for our custom cabinetry and wall, ceiling, and floor panel systems. This is a senior individual‑contributor role that emphasizes technical maturity, solid CAD capability, and a strong connection to prototyping, fabrication, and installation. You will own designs from requirements through modeling, prototype, design review, manufacturing release, installation, and revision. You will help strengthen our design systems and standards, without imposing unnecessary processes. The right candidate has experience without ego, is confident enough to decide and willing to revise based on shop floor feedback.

What success looks like

• You independently take products and assemblies from requirements through production release.
• Designs are manufactured and installed successfully in customer vehicles.
• Fabricators and installers trust the clarity, accuracy, and practicality of your work.
• You anticipate manufacturing, assembly, serviceability, and installation issues before rework occurs.
• You make appropriate material, tolerance, hardware, fabrication method, and component interface decisions.
• You improve the structure and repeatability of CAD, drawing, revision, and design‑release practices.
• You create reusable design systems and standards where they add value.
• You give and receive direct technical feedback constructively.
• You mentor less‑experienced teammates through collaboration and example rather than hierarchy.
• You consistently balance quality, speed, cost, and complexity.

Who this role is for

• Substantial professional experience developing physical products, fabricated assemblies, vehicle components, cabinetry systems, or similar items.
• High proficiency in parametric 3D CAD; Fusion 360 experience is preferred.
• Ability to produce production‑ready models, assemblies, drawings, and manufacturing information.
• A degree in engineering, industrial design, product design, or a related discipline is valuable but not mandatory. Strong judgment and a solid portfolio can outweigh credentials alone.
• Solid understanding of design‑for‑manufacture and design‑for‑assembly principles.
• Experience with CNC processes, sheet goods, plastics, composites, metals, hardware, fasteners, or fabricated assemblies.
• Ability to move between detailed CAD work and hands‑on prototype evaluation.
• Comfort advancing work with evolving requirements.
• Know when precision is needed and when a simpler solution suffices.
• Treat fabricators and installers as partners in the design process and communicate decisions clearly.
• Enjoy mentoring through collaboration and example rather than formal authority.
• Desire to stay hands‑on while shaping how products are developed.