Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

The Mechanical Design Engineer will be responsible for designing and developing custom automation equipment from concept through final build. This role is ideal for a hands-on mechanical designer who enjoys solving unique engineering challenges and turning concepts into functional machines.

Working closely with engineers, technicians, and customers, the Mechanical Design Engineer will develop mechanical systems, components, tooling, and assemblies for custom automation applications. The role requires strong project-based design experience, sound mechanical engineering fundamentals, and proficiency with SolidWorks or a comparable 3D CAD platform .

The ideal candidate has 4+ years of mechanical design experience and has worked on custom machinery, automation equipment, robotics, manufacturing equipment, or other engineered-to-order systems. Experience designing end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), machine subcomponents, fixtures, and mechanical assemblies is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Design custom automation machinery, mechanisms, tooling, fixtures, and mechanical assemblies.
• Develop concepts and detailed designs based on customer requirements, engineering specifications, and project objectives.
• Create 3D models, detailed drawings, assemblies, bills of materials, and related engineering documentation using SolidWorks or similar CAD software.
• Design and develop end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) for robotic and automated applications.
• Design machine subcomponents including brackets, frames, tooling, guards, fixtures, mechanisms, and motion-related components.
• Work through complete design projects from initial concept and layout through detailed design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and final implementation.
• Select appropriate mechanical components and materials based on application requirements, cost, performance, and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, controls, and manufacturing team members to develop integrated automation systems.
• Participate in design reviews and communicate design intent with engineers, machinists, fabricators, and assembly technicians.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and design issues during machine assembly and commissioning and make design modifications as required.
• Ensure designs are practical to manufacture, assemble, service, and operate.
• Support prototype development, machine build, testing, and customer integration activities.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation and incorporate design changes throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional mechanical design experience.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or a similar 3D CAD platform .
• Demonstrated experience completing project-based mechanical design work from concept through build.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, fasteners, tolerancing, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to create detailed mechanical drawings and production-ready documentation.
• Experience designing mechanical assemblies and individual components.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to develop practical solutions to unique engineering challenges.
• Ability to communicate effectively with engineering, manufacturing, assembly, and project teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ownership of design quality.

Preferred Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas is strongly preferred:

• Custom automation machinery
• End-of-arm tooling (EOAT)
• Robotic automation
• Machine fixtures and tooling
• Automated material handling
• Pneumatic and electromechanical systems
• Linear motion and mechanical actuation
• Machine guarding and structural design
• Special-purpose machinery
• CNC machining and fabricated components
• High-volume manufacturing environments
• Design for manufacturability and assembly

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a project-oriented mechanical designer who enjoys building things that have never been built before . Rather than focusing solely on drafting or maintaining existing products, this individual is comfortable taking ownership of mechanical designs, solving problems as they arise, and working directly with the team during fabrication and assembly.

Experience designing EOAT, fixtures, mechanisms, machine subassemblies, and custom automation equipment is particularly valuable. Candidates should be comfortable moving between the CAD workstation and the shop floor and should enjoy seeing their designs become functioning machines.

This is an excellent opportunity for a mechanical designer who wants to take meaningful ownership of custom automation projects and work in a collaborative, hands-on engineering environment.

You should be proficient in:

• GD&T
• Project Management
• CAD Software
• Design for Assembly (DFA)
• Mechanical Design & Engineering
• BOM