Mechanical Engineer

Job Description Job Description Title : Mechanical Engineer II Location : Newton, NC| Onsite Pay Rate : $45/Hr on W2 Type& Duration : 12 plus months contract possibility of extension based on demand. Scope of this position: Mechanical Engineer II serves as a senior individual contributor in a team environment responsible for leading complex mechanical engineering efforts that support optical fiber manufacturing qualification, validation, process improvement, equipment reliability, and capacity expansion. The role owns technical scope from concept through commissioning and sustained operation; develops safe, robust, and cost-effective solutions; and partners with operations, maintenance, process engineering, controls, quality, EHS, suppliers, and contractors to deliver results in an active manufacturing environment. Key Accountabilities Act as the mechanical technical lead for assigned initiatives, making sound engineering decisions Deliver equipment qualification scheme, line-conversion, and process-improvement solutions that improve safety, reliability, throughput, product quality, capacity, and maintainability. Build alignment among cross-functional stakeholders and external partners to achieve approved scope, schedule, and operational-readiness objectives. Standardize effective designs and work practices; mentor less-experienced engineers and technicians; and strengthen site engineering capability. Core Responsibilities 1. Technical Leadership and Project Delivery Independently lead moderate-to-large and technically complex debugging and qualification projects for capacity expansion. Develop engineering packages including equipment specifications, mechanical scope documents, layouts, calculations, utility requirements, installation plans, debug plans, and acceptance criteria for qualification. Provide technical oversight of vendors, fabricators, contractors, and integrators; review submittals, resolve design issues, and verify work meets specifications and applicable standards. Drive project controls for mechanical scope: identify risks, maintain action items, manage changes, communicate status, and recommend recovery plans when performance deviates from plan. 2. Equipment, Process, and Reliability Improvement Lead mechanical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for chronic equipment, process, quality, or safety issues; implement and validate sustainable corrective actions. Design and implement modifications to new and existing manufacturing lines, including conversions that enable new products, process capability, capacity expansion, or waste reduction. Apply reliability, maintainability, ergonomics, guarding, and lifecycle-cost principles to equipment selections and designs; establish practical standards and documentation for repeatable solutions. Use operating data and field observations to prioritize improvement opportunities and quantify results in areas such as uptime, throughput, scrap, safety, quality, and maintenance cost. 3. Installation, Commissioning, and Operational Readiness Lead installation/debug/qualification planning and field execution with operations, maintenance, EHS, contractors, and project stakeholders, including shutdown coordination and safe-work readiness. Verify mechanical fit-up, utilities, guarding, access, ergonomics, maintainability, and interfaces with automation and controls before and during startup. Lead mechanical checkout, commissioning, startup troubleshooting, performance acceptance, and transition to operations; ensure training, spare parts, drawings, and turnover documentation are complete. 4. Collaboration, Influence, and Capability Building Communicate technical recommendations, tradeoffs, project status, and implementation requirements clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Coach junior engineers and technical team members through design reviews, troubleshooting, and project execution; provide constructive technical feedback. Contribute to engineering standards, lessons learned, design reviews, and continuous-improvement practices across the site and broader organization. Competency Profile Technical / Functional Competencies Mechanical Engineering Leadership Applies advanced mechanical engineering principles to define solutions for equipment, systems, and manufacturing processes. Exercises independent judgment and recommends approaches with appropriate consideration of safety, performance, reliability, maintainability, and total cost. Manufacturing Process Expertise Understands equipment performance drivers and manufacturing process interactions. Translates operating needs into technical requirements and uses data to drive improvements in throughput, uptime, scrap, quality, and capacity. Project and Contractor Management Plans and leads technical work across project phases; manages interfaces, risks, deliverables, and changes; and holds suppliers and contractors accountable to agreed scope, schedule, quality, and safety expectations. Installation, Commissioning, Qualification Leads field execution and startup in active manufacturing and construction environments. Anticipates issues, resolves complex mechanical problems, and ensures systems are safely accepted and sustained by operations. Behavioral Competencies Ownership and Results Owns outcomes, follows through on commitments, and drives complex issues to closure while preserving safety and quality. Collaboration and Influence Builds productive partnerships across functions, seeks input early, and aligns stakeholders around practical solutions. Communication Explains technical issues, risks, and tradeoffs with clarity; provides timely, decision-ready updates. Adaptability Performs effectively amid changing production priorities, shutdowns, and startup demands; remains calm and solution-focused. Safety Mindset Integrates safe design and safe-work practices into every phase of engineering, installation, and process change. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. 3+ years of relevant engineering experience in manufacturing, industrial equipment, reliability, process improvement, or capital-project execution. Demonstrated experience independently leading equipment installations, line modifications or conversions, mechanical troubleshooting, qualification, and commissioning activities. Ability to create and interpret mechanical drawings, equipment documentation, specifications, layouts, and technical requirements. Working knowledge of project planning, vendor/contractor coordination, and engineering change-management practices. Preferred Qualifications Experience in optical fiber cable, wire and cable, extrusion, plastics processing, or another continuous manufacturing environment. Experience leading capital projects, manufacturing-line upgrades, equipment conversions, qualifications, or reliability improvement initiatives. Proficiency with CAD systems and engineering documentation tools; familiarity with mechanical design calculations and applicable machine-safety standards. Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, reliability-centered maintenance, or structured problem-solving methods. Understanding of automation and controls interfaces within manufacturing equipment; Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or progress toward licensure is a plus. Data Analytics using statistical packages such as JMP