Design Engineer

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We are guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

We are looking for a Design Engineer to join our team to drive different scales of customization, relocation, and industrialization projects. The candidate is a lead engineer who is taking full technical ownership of the products including translating customer needs into engineering characteristics and into unique products, combining design optimization with value-driven design to support and automate configuration of customized products. 

Reporting directly to team leader, you will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders across the company, actively participate in all phases of the project, including requirement definition, design, development, research, fabrication, testing/integration, customer interface, maintenance, safety, and economic utilization in the manufacture of VAT products.

The role requires the mechanical background as a fundamental, good proficiency in computer-aided design, drawing, drafting standards and practical geometry tolerance. Good communication skill, ability to work independently under low supervision, and work effectively within diverse multi-functional teams is needed for this role as well. Success in this role is dependent on the in-and-external collaboration to maintain the organization's day-to-day business operation, courage in taking the ownership and responsibility of the product series.

Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Good in product knowledge including design, machining, assembly, and the surrounding processes.
• Responsible in managing the product technical portfolio and keeping it up to date with support from Customization Design Engineer.
• Lead the technical of relocation project and customization project by turning customer-specific request into deliveries.
• Technical lead for Product & Quality team in providing technical advices, root cause analysis and implementing short and long term measures.
• Establishing design guideline and a checker to make sure good design quality.
• Support the Change Request and Change Management, liaising with engineering change department for ECR/ECN implementation at production floor, keeping the product up to date.
• Involved in customer audit and provide technical support for Customer Complaint.
• Support laboratory activities.
• Drive the product industrialization by design improvement, optimization and cost down project.
• Industrialization of new standard and customer specific products in close cooperation with industrialization project managers, HQ-design engineers and product engineers
• Drive product optimization via collaboration with manufacturing departments, supplier development engineers and project buyers
• Render technical support to NPI product until handoff to operations.
• Support customers together with product management and application engineers.
• Perform design review and Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DFMA) at cross-departmental level.
• Work together with Product Manager in conducting product training.
• Participate in PFMEA, DFMEA and design walkthrough.

Minimum Qualification

• Degree or master in mechanical engineering
• Skill in 3D-CAD
• Good understanding of GD&T and its application.
• At least 5 years relevant experience
• Sense of responsibility

• Able to work independently with minimum supervision
• Team player, ability to collaborate professionally in fast-paced environment
• Good communication skills, with good English efficiency.
• Strong analytical skills
• Proactive, agile, creative, self-motivated

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct.