Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

Hunter Foundry Machinery is seeking an Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer to join our team in Bensenville, IL. This position will work closely with and support an experienced Hunter Mechanical Engineer in the design, development, build, testing, and installation of Hunter's automated foundry machinery. Hunter designs and manufactures large, highly automated machines and material-handling systems for the metal casting industry. Our equipment combines complex mechanical assemblies with electrical controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, motors, sensors, and other systems that work together to automate foundry production. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career mechanical engineer who wants hands-on experience designing and building complex industrial machinery. The Mechanical Engineer will work closely with experienced engineering, manufacturing, assembly, controls, and service personnel and will have the opportunity to develop into a key technical resource for Hunter. What your day will look like: Support the senior Mechanical Engineer in the design and development of Hunter automated foundry machinery and material-handling equipment. Develop and modify mechanical designs, components, assemblies, and subassemblies for new and existing machines. Create and update detailed engineering drawings, assembly drawings, and manufacturing drawings. Develop and maintain bills of material (BOMs) and other engineering documentation required to manufacture and assemble Hunter equipment. Use 2D & 3D CAD software to create models of machine components and complete mechanical assemblies. Assist with the selection and specification of mechanical components, bearings, shafts, gearboxes, motors, cylinders, structural components, and other machine elements. Review existing machine designs and identify opportunities to improve reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, safety, and cost. Work directly with manufacturing and assembly personnel to resolve questions and problems that arise during machine fabrication and assembly. Spend time on the production floor observing machine assembly and ensuring that engineering designs function as intended. Troubleshoot mechanical problems during machine assembly, start-up, testing, and commissioning. Work with Controls and Electrical Engineering to ensure mechanical systems properly integrate with machine controls, sensors, motors, hydraulics, and pneumatics. Participate in machine start-up, testing, debugging, and factory acceptance testing before equipment is shipped to the customer. Assist with engineering changes and modifications to equipment already in production. Support improvements and upgrades to existing Hunter machines installed at customer facilities. Assist the service organization in troubleshooting mechanical problems and responding to customer technical questions. Participate in root-cause analysis when mechanical failures or performance issues occur and help develop corrective actions. Work with vendors and suppliers to help identify and specify components used in machine designs. Maintain accurate drawings, engineering files, revision histories, BOMs (bills of material), and other technical documentation. Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, assembly, purchasing, service, and project management throughout the machine-build process. Learn Hunter's machinery, mechanical design standards, manufacturing processes, and foundry automation applications. Assist with machine installation, commissioning, and start-up at customer facilities as needed. Perform other engineering and technical duties as assigned. What we are looking for: Strong interest in mechanical design, industrial machinery, automation, and manufacturing. Basic understanding of mechanical engineering principles and machine design. Experience with 2D (AutoCAD) & 3D (SolidWorks / Inventor) CAD software through education, internships, co-op experience, projects, or previous employment. Ability to read and understand mechanical drawings, assembly drawings, and engineering specifications. Basic understanding of mechanical components such as bearings, shafts, gears, motors, gearboxes, cylinders, fasteners, and fabricated components. Familiarity with machining, welding, fabrication, and manufacturing processes is preferred. Basic knowledge of hydraulics and pneumatics is preferred. Understanding of engineering tolerances, fits, materials, and manufacturing methods. Strong mechanical aptitude and an interest in understanding how complex machinery operates. Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. Comfortable working directly with large industrial machinery in a manufacturing and assembly environment. Willingness to spend significant time on the production floor during machine assembly, testing, and troubleshooting. Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate engineering documentation. Good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively with engineers, machinists, welders, assemblers, electricians, controls engineers, service technicians, vendors, and customers. Ability to manage multiple assignments and follow projects through completion. Self-motivated with a strong willingness to learn from an experienced mechanical engineer and develop practical machine-design skills. Willingness to travel periodically to customer locations for equipment installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and service support. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering , or a closely related engineering field. Recent graduates and candidates with approximately 0-2 years of relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply. Coursework, internship, co-op, project, or professional experience involving mechanical design, machinery, manufacturing, or automation is strongly preferred. Experience with 3D CAD and mechanical drawing software is strongly preferred. Experience with industrial machinery, machine design, manufacturing equipment, hydraulics, pneumatics, or automation is preferred but not required. Ability to safely work around large industrial machinery and manufacturing equipment. Ability to travel as required to support customer installations and equipment start-ups. Job Type: Full-Time About Hunter Foundry Machinery Hunter Foundry Machinery has been in business for over 60 years and is a world leader in matchplate molding machines and automated mold-handling equipment for the foundry industry. Hunter equipment is designed and manufactured to help foundries improve productivity, consistency, safety, and efficiency through reliable industrial automation. We serve customers throughout the manufacturing, metal casting, automotive, aerospace, and heavy-industry markets. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career engineer who wants to build a career in mechanical engineering and industrial machine design while gaining hands-on experience with complex automated equipment. The successful candidate will work directly with an experienced Hunter Mechanical Engineer and develop practical expertise in mechanical design, CAD, manufacturing, machine assembly, troubleshooting, testing, and equipment commissioning. Hunter is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr