Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

Title : Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
Location : Chicago (Ravenswood area)
Hire Type : Direct Hire OR Indefinite contract


Compensation : $160k-170K yrly

Benefits :Comprehensive Benefit Package
Must have Skill Set : Strong Leadrship Skills


About the Opportunity

Join a global leader in advanced product development and manufacturing solutions serving highly regulated industries. This organization partners with some of the world's most recognized brands to design, develop, and manufacture complex, high-performance products used worldwide.

They are expanding capabilities and seeking an experienced Technical Leader / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to drive innovation, lead mechanical design efforts, and guide multidisciplinary teams through the full product development lifecycle.

Position Overview

This is a high-impact leadership role for a results-driven engineer with strong mechanical design expertise and proven success leading cross-functional teams. You will oversee multiple programs, solve complex engineering challenges, and ensure designs are optimized for performance, manufacturability, and scalability.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in fast-paced product development environments and enjoys mentoring engineers while shaping next-generation products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate mechanical design activities across one or more product development programs
• Partner with cross-functional and multi-site teams to achieve technical and business objectives
• Define priorities, timelines, and resource needs for engineering programs
• Develop and communicate technical action plans internally and externally
• Identify risks early and recommend practical solutions balancing cost, timing, and requirements
• Design, build, and test prototypes to evaluate product performance
• Solve complex technical challenges throughout development and commercialization
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
• Collaborate with tooling, automation, and manufacturing teams for high-volume production readiness
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and technical contributors

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering
• 7+ years of product development or mechanical design engineering experience
• Strong knowledge of regulated industry standards (FDA, ISO, or similar)
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and related engineering software
• Experience leading technical aspects of product/device development programs
• Background in high-volume manufacturing, injection molding, and automation

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, and team collaboration skills
• Ability to work effectively across multiple locations and functions
• Experience in consulting or client-facing engineering environments
• Basic understanding of electronics and software integration

Why Consider This Role?

• Lead high-visibility engineering programs with real business impact
• Work on innovative products used globally
• Collaborate with world-class engineering and manufacturing teams
• Strong growth opportunity within an expanding global organization

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Meet Your Recruiter

Ric Delgado
Team Lead and Principal Recruiter

Ric is a Team Lead and Principal Recruiter at Sterling Engineering with more than a decade of technical recruiting experience, including over eight years with Sterling. In his role, he leads recruiting efforts while also working hands-on with clients and candidates throughout the full hiring process.

From sourcing hard-to-find technical talent to navigating offer negotiations, Ric focuses on creating strong, lasting matches that benefit both the individual and the organization. His approach is built on understanding technical environments, listening closely to hiring needs and career goals, and aligning the right people with the right opportunities.

Ric enjoys recruiting because of the meaningful impact it can have on someone's career. Whether helping a candidate pursue a growth opportunity, improve work-life balance, or step into a leadership role, he is driven by the opportunity to support people through important career decisions. At the same time, he takes pride in helping companies build high-performing teams that move their business forward.

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

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