Mechanical Designer

Position Summary

SSI is seeking a Mechanical Designer to support our industrial automation product line — designing test cells, fixtures, and mechanical systems for automated production lines (including pick-and-place robotics and material handling). This role works closely with controls engineers to take concepts from sketch to a working production system, designing mechanisms that are precise, repeatable, and mechanically sound under real operating loads.

Key Responsibilities

• Design test cells, fixtures, and tooling for production testing and inspection using 3D CAD
• Design mechanical systems for automated material handling, including pick-and-place mechanisms, conveyors, and end-effector/gripper tooling
• Produce detailed manufacturing drawings with GD&T, tolerancing, and BOMs
• Calculate loads, torque, and force requirements to properly size servo motors, gearboxes, actuators, and structural members for each application
• Select materials and mechanical hardware suited to production-line duty cycles (repeatability, wear, precision alignment, cycle time)
• Collaborate with controls engineers to integrate PLCs, servo drives, VFDs, sensors, and pneumatics into fixture and cell designs, ensuring mechanical design supports required motion and load profiles
• Support prototyping, bench testing, and on-line commissioning of new fixtures/cells; iterate based on production performance
• Work with the shop floor to resolve fabrication and assembly issues; design for manufacturability (sheet metal, machining, welding, 3D printing)
• Maintain and revise existing fixtures/test cells based on production feedback and reliability data
• Support sourcing by identifying vendors/parts (servo motors, gearboxes, actuators, robotic components, fasteners) and evaluating make-vs-buy decisions
• Assist with documentation for fixture/cell designs, including assembly and maintenance instructions

Required Qualifications

• Associate's with minimum of 7 years experience or Bachelor's degree with 2 year experience in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Proficiency with standard CAD platforms — AutoCAD 3D or SolidWorks (preferred)
• Working knowledge of GD&T and mechanical drawing standards
• Ability to calculate loads, torque, and force requirements for motor/actuator sizing and structural design
• Understanding of sheet metal fabrication, machining processes, and fastener/hardware selection
• Experience designing fixtures, tooling, or mechanical systems for test/production environments
• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort working hands-on with prototypes

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing pick-and-place mechanisms, robotic end-effectors, or automated material handling systems
• Familiarity with PLC-controlled systems, servo motors/drives, and VFDs, and how they interface mechanically (couplings, gearing, mounting)
• Understanding of motion control concepts (inertia matching, backlash, precision alignment/locating features)
• Exposure to industrial robotics (e.g., 6-axis arms, SCARA, gantry systems) and their mechanical integration
• Experience supporting production ramp-up or working directly with controls/manufacturing engineers to refine fixture designs

Salary/Compensation: $50,000 - $120,000 per year