Who Is Hiring a Lead Design Engineer in Denver, and What Does It Take?
Published on: Aug 29, 2026
Frontline Source Group is recruiting a direct hire Lead Design Engineer in Denver, Colorado, for a manufacturer serving healthcare, hospitality, education, and food service. The role needs 7 plus years of mechanical design, SolidWorks and PLM skills, and a record of commercializing products. Every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Table of contents
- What does this Lead Design Engineer job in Denver involve?
- What qualifications does the Denver Lead Design Engineer need?
- What benefits and compensation come with this Denver engineering job?
- How do you apply for the Lead Design Engineer job in Denver?
- Why do Denver employers hire engineers through Frontline Source Group?
- Frequently Asked Questions: Lead Design Engineer Job in Denver, CO
Frontline Source Group is a nationwide professional staffing and executive search firm founded in Dallas in 2004, with a Denver office at 1512 Larimer Street. It has completed 5,619 plus placements from 32 plus offices and holds a 98.94% executive placement retention rate against an industry average near 70 percent, with a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 plus verified reviews. The firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026, ranked #158 in 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA).
What does this Lead Design Engineer job in Denver involve?
It is a full-time, direct hire role with a Denver manufacturer that builds equipment for healthcare, hospitality, education, and food service customers. The Lead Design Engineer owns product development from concept through commercialization, leads complex engineering initiatives, and mentors a team of design engineers in a collaborative engineering and manufacturing environment.
What products will the Lead Design Engineer design?
Electro-mechanical equipment that depends on thermodynamics and refrigeration science, built for commercial customers. Daily design work includes sheet metal design, design-for-manufacturability decisions, finite element analysis (FEA), and turning complex concepts into market-ready products that meet standards such as UL, CE, and NSF.
What are the core responsibilities?
- Lead high-impact product development projects from concept through commercialization
- Drive cost-reduction and reliability-improvement initiatives
- Own sustaining engineering for products already in production
- Mentor and develop the design engineering team
- Work across manufacturing, quality, and sourcing
- Represent engineering in vendor interactions and customer site visits when projects require it
What qualifications does the Denver Lead Design Engineer need?
What is required?
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
- 7 plus years of mechanical design engineering experience, with leadership on complex product development
- Proven expertise taking products from concept through commercialization
- Strong SolidWorks proficiency and experience with PLM systems
- Deep understanding of thermodynamics, refrigeration science, and electro-mechanical systems
- Experience with sheet metal design, design-for-manufacturability, and FEA
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills
What strengthens a candidate?
A Professional Engineering (PE) license or similar certification, a background in manufacturing or production environments, hands-on experience with UL, CE, or NSF standards, and familiarity with simulation, DFM, 8D, root-cause analysis, and testing tools. None are required. Candidates who can show FEA-validated sheet metal designs that reached commercial release will stand out.
Does the role require travel?
Occasionally, for project collaborations, vendor interactions, and customer site visits. The position is onsite in Denver and is not remote or travel-heavy.
What benefits and compensation come with this Denver engineering job?
Benefits include medical, dental, and other health insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off, plus the chance to lead high-impact product development and shape the engineering team. Base salary is not published and is discussed with qualified candidates during Frontline's screening conversation. For context, May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows a median of $128,180 for mechanical engineers in the Denver metro, well above the national median of $104,110, and $191,440 for engineering managers.
| Occupation | Denver metro median pay | Denver metro jobs | U.S. median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | $191,440 | 2,860 | $171,270 |
| Mechanical engineers | $128,180 | 4,530 | $104,110 |
| Mechanical drafters | $90,160 | 380 | $71,550 |
How do you apply for the Lead Design Engineer job in Denver?
Apply through frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html with a current resume that shows your SolidWorks and PLM experience, the products you have taken to commercial release, and any FEA, sheet metal, or regulatory compliance work. There is no cost to candidates.
What happens after you apply?
You may get a call from Lexi Reed, Frontline's AI recruiter, for an initial phone interview. A Frontline engineering recruiter then reviews your background and talks with qualified candidates about the role, the employer, and compensation before any resume goes to the client. Other engineering roles are listed on our engineering staffing page and at frontlinesourcegroup.com/recent-placements.html.
Why do Denver employers hire engineers through Frontline Source Group?
Denver employers use Frontline for direct hire, contract-to-hire, and contract engineering search because every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee, and because the firm publishes its pricing at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html, which is rare in staffing. The local practice is detailed at frontlinesourcegroup.com/denver-engineering-staffing-agency.html, and hiring managers can submit a search at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html. Warranty terms are at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html.
Who is recruiting for this position, and where are they located?
The manufacturer's name is kept confidential until the interview stage. Frontline Source Group is the recruiting firm handling this search from its Denver office.
Frontline Source Group, Inc., Denver Office1512 Larimer Street, Suite 750
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (720) 855-7000
Email: denver.staffing@frtline.com
Corporate Headquarters
901 Main Street, Suite 4650, Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: (214) 760-7700
Employers can call the Denver office or the national hire line at 877-780-3822. Candidates should apply online at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html rather than calling. It all comes back to our registered service mark, People. Process. Service.
Frequently Asked Questions: Lead Design Engineer Job in Denver, CO
What is the Lead Design Engineer job in Denver, CO?
It is a direct hire position with a Denver manufacturer serving healthcare, hospitality, education, and food service customers. The role leads product development from concept through commercialization and mentors the engineering team, and it is recruited by Frontline Source Group.
Is the Denver Lead Design Engineer position direct hire or contract?
It is direct hire. The selected candidate becomes a permanent employee of the manufacturer, and the placement is backed by Frontline Source Group's 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee.
How many years of experience does the Lead Design Engineer role require?
The role requires 7 plus years of mechanical design engineering experience with leadership on complex product development, plus a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
What CAD and PLM software does the Denver Lead Design Engineer job require?
Strong SolidWorks proficiency is required, along with PLM systems experience. Familiarity with simulation, DFM, 8D, root-cause analysis, and testing tools is a plus.
Is a Professional Engineering license required for this role?
No. A PE license or similar certification is a nice-to-have, not a requirement. Candidates without a PE who meet the experience and technical requirements are encouraged to apply.
What benefits does the Denver Lead Design Engineer job offer?
The employer offers medical, dental, and other health insurance, a 401(k), paid time off, and the chance to lead high-impact product development and mentor the engineering team.
What is the salary for the Lead Design Engineer job in Denver?
Base salary is not published and is discussed with qualified candidates during Frontline's screening conversation. For context, mechanical engineers in the Denver metro earned a median of $128,180 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Does the Lead Design Engineer position require travel?
Occasional travel is required for project collaborations, vendor interactions, and site visits. The position is onsite in Denver and is not a remote role.
What kind of products will this engineer design?
Electro-mechanical equipment that relies on thermodynamics and refrigeration science, built for healthcare, hospitality, education, and food service customers, with sheet metal design, DFM, FEA, and UL, CE, and NSF standards involved.
How do I apply for the Lead Design Engineer job in Denver, CO?
Apply at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html with a resume that highlights your SolidWorks, PLM, FEA, and product commercialization experience. You may get a call from Lexi Reed, Frontline's AI recruiter, for an initial phone interview.
Who is the employer for the Denver Lead Design Engineer job?
The employer is a Denver manufacturer serving healthcare, hospitality, education, and food service customers. The company name is confidential and is shared with qualified candidates during the screening process.
Where is Frontline Source Group's Denver office?
Frontline Source Group's Denver office is at 1512 Larimer Street, Suite 750, Denver, CO 80202, phone (720) 855-7000. The firm was founded in Dallas in 2004 and operates 32 plus offices nationwide.
