Mechanical Engineer II

An industry-leading manufacturer of automated packaging equipment is seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to join its engineering team in Sarasota, Florida. This position is ideal for a hands-on, driven engineer who thrives in a fast-paced OEM environment and enjoys designing highly customized automated machinery from concept through production.

This role will focus on the design and development of complex packaging equipment, mechanical assemblies, pneumatic systems, and automation-related machinery used by customers across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial manufacturing sectors.

The ideal candidate is an energetic, accountable engineer who takes ownership of projects, collaborates effectively across functions, and is eager to contribute to innovative machinery solutions.

Location: Sarasota, FL (Onsite)

Relocation Assistance Available

Salary: $115,000 - $135,000

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop automated packaging machinery and mechanical systems from concept through production release.
• Create detailed 3D models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using Inventor, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD.
• Generate and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and technical documentation.
• Design sheet metal, machined components, mechanical assemblies, and pneumatic systems.
• Support new product development initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, purchasing, service, and sales teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Process and implement Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement engineering solutions to improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Support prototype development, testing, and validation activities.
• Review vendor proposals and technical quotations for components and assemblies.
• Ensure designs meet customer requirements, regulatory standards, and company engineering specifications.
• Maintain drawing databases and documentation control systems.
• Interface directly with customers, suppliers, and external partners when required.

Required Qualifications

• 4-6 years of mechanical engineering experience designing manufacturing machinery in an OEM environment.
• Strong experience designing custom machinery, automation equipment, or packaging systems.
• Proficiency with Inventor and/or SolidWorks .
• Strong AutoCAD skills and experience creating detailed engineering documentation.
• Experience generating BOMs, fabrication drawings, and assembly documentation.
• Ability to independently manage complex mechanical design projects with minimal supervision.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, pneumatics, fabrication methods, and manufacturing processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).
• Experience designing complex automated packaging or material handling equipment.
• Background supporting machinery from concept through manufacturing and field deployment.
• Experience coordinating across engineering, manufacturing, service, and supply chain functions.
• Knowledge of machine design best practices, reliability improvements, and design-for-manufacturing principles.
• Exposure to pouching, cartoning, flexible packaging, thermoforming, or other packaging machinery applications.

Travel & Schedule

• Primarily onsite in Sarasota, Florida.
• Occasional travel may be required to support customer installations, testing, or project activities.
• Typical business hours with flexibility based on project demands and deadlines.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join a growing engineering organization that designs highly customized automation and packaging equipment.
• Work on complex machinery projects from concept through final production.
• Gain exposure to advanced mechanical systems, automation technologies, and new product development initiatives.
• Collaborate with experienced engineering leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Stable, long-term opportunity with a market-leading manufacturer serving essential industries.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement savings plan with company match, and generous paid time off.
• Benefits eligible on day one of employment.

Ideal Backgrounds

Candidates coming from OEM machinery manufacturers, packaging automation companies, material handling equipment manufacturers, or custom industrial equipment builders will be especially attractive. Experience with equipment such as cartoners, pouching systems, form-fill-seal machinery, case packers, robotic automation, thermoforming equipment, or other high-speed packaging systems is highly preferred.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.

EEO Notice


Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io .


Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .

Representation Notice


By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here .

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here ( ). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice


Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.