Principal Designer - HT Engineering

Job Description

Principal CAD Designer - Hand Tools Engineering

Role Summary

As a Principal CAD Designer for Milwaukee Tool, you will be a highly experienced, hands-on CAD professional responsible for developing creative and original design solutions from general specifications and cross functional team collaboration . You will work with speed, agility, and urgency across a wide range of assignments , from quickly completing straightforward CAD requests to creating complex surfaced models, complete product layouts, and tooling-ready designs while balancing product performance, manufacturability, and schedule. Working with limited direction, you will own significant CAD workstreams within larger development projects and partner closely with Engineering, Industrial Design, M anufacturing, and prototyping labs , to move designs from concept through release. You will also serve as a working lead for a small group of CAD designers by coordinating project and task loading, providing technical guidance and mentorship, developing team capability, anticipating timing and resource risks, and escalating concerns .

Core Responsibilities

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Execute a wide range of CAD assignments, from quick-turn modeling and drawing updates to complex surfacing, assemblies, and tooling-ready models.

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Own existing and develop newly defined CAD workstreams or portions of larger projects, coordinating deliverables and maintaining model and drawing quality through release.

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Create and maintain 3D models, drawings, assemblies, BOM inputs, and change documentation using Siemens NX .

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Partner with engineers, industrial designers, manufacturing teams, and global CAD resources to translate technical direction into robust CAD deliverables.

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Lead a small team of CAD designers while remaining a highly engaged individual contributor.

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Manage team project loading, balance assignments against skills and capacity, and help establish clear priorities.

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Coach and develop CAD designers through technical guidance, work reviews, knowledge sharing, and targeted skill development.

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Anticipate CAD capacity, timing, quality, and capability risks; communicate concerns early and escalate resource or schedule needs when appropriate.

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Promote consistent CAD standards, modeling practices, release quality, and continuous improvement across the team.

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Support onboarding and help build team flexibility by developing broader capability across products, tools, and project types.

Qualifications

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Technical Associate Degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

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7+ years of experience in CAD modeling, drafting, product design support, and related technical assignments.

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Expert-level Siemens NX ( or comparable ) 3D CAD experience, including complex surfacing and multi-component assemblies.

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Demonstrated ability to work efficiently across both quick-turn requests and complex, longer-duration assignments.

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Strong working knowledge of component design and manufacturing methods such as plastic molding, forging, die casting, sheet metal, machining, and related processes.

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Strong organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

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Self-directed, adaptable, and able to operate with limited day-to-day direction while knowing when to engage engineering or functional leadership.

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Preferred: Practical Understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis, drawing practices, model quality, and product release requirements.

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Preferred: Experience leading, mentoring, or coordinating the work of other CAD designers

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Preferred: Ability to assess workload, match assignments to team capability, recognize delivery risks, and communicate escalation needs clearly.

Working conditions:

Office Environment

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Primarily working in an indoor office environment at the Downtown Milwaukee location

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May sit for several hours at a time

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Prolonged exposure to computer screens

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Moderate noise i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers.

Travel Requirements

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Up to 5%

We provide these great perks and benefits:

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Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance plans

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Generous 401(K) savings plan

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Education assistance

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On-site wellness, fitness center, food, and coffee service

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And many more, check out our benefits site HERE .

Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.