Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Role Overview Modern Packaging is seeking a talented Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the mechanical development, redesign, and modernization of our food packaging machinery. You will play a pivotal role as the architect of the next generation of sanitary, modular, and high‑performance equipment used in food production environments. This position requires deep expertise in mechanical design for automation, a strong understanding of hygienic design principles, and the ability to create robust, manufacturable solutions tailored for washdown conditions and high‑throughput packaging applications. Responsibilities Lead Product Redesign & Platform Modernization: Drive the complete redesign of existing equipment to establish a standardized, modular mechanical platform optimized for food packaging operations. Integrate sanitary design principles including washdown cleanability, smooth surfaces, proper material selection, and food‑safe construction methods. Evaluate current mechanical systems and develop redesign strategies that enhance OEE, simplify maintenance, and support efficient changeovers. Create next‑generation architecture promoting scalability, product format flexibility, and component commonality. Mechanical Design & Engineering Execution: Design mechanical systems for packaging applications such as sealing, motion mechanisms, film handling, and product dosing. Develop 3D CAD models, detailed assemblies, and fully documented drawing packages. Perform engineering calculations, tolerance stack‑up analyses, and material selections suitable for sanitary environments such as stainless steel and other FDA‑compliant materials. Apply DFM/DFA principles for high‑volume or customized machinery builds. Technical Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Lead technical reviews, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to establishing engineering standards. Work closely with Electrical, Controls, and Automation Engineering teams to ensure seamless machine integration. Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, and Service teams to support machine builds, testing, and field performance. Prototyping, Testing & Validation: Direct prototype builds, functional testing, and iterative design improvements. Validate mechanical systems for food safety, durability, throughput, sealing integrity, film handling, and motion accuracy. Conduct root‑cause analyses for failures and implement corrective design measures. Support FATs, SATs, and customer acceptance testing when required. Process & Documentation Ownership: Maintain accurate engineering documentation, revision control, and design release processes. Contribute to mechanical design guidelines aligned with food packaging, sanitary, and safety standards. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology (BSME or BSMET), or similar engineering or technical degree from an accredited four‑year college or university or equivalent industry experience in mechanical design required. 10+ years’ experience in mechanical design, preferably in packaging machinery, food processing equipment or industrial automation. Strong proficiency with 3D CAD tools (Inventor preferred). Proven experience with DFM/DFA, machine frames, pneumatics, filling, and sealing or capping systems. Familiarity with sanitary/hygienic design requirements and materials suited for food‑contact or washdown zones, as seen in 3‑A and USDA Food Equipment Standards. Hands‑on experience with mechanical testing, prototyping, and troubleshooting. Strong understanding of materials, machining, sheet metal fabrication, and mechanical tolerances. Benefits Base salary range: $125,000 - $130,000. Potential short‑term incentive opportunities. Comprehensive medical/dental/vision programs. Life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, retirement savings plan with company match, and wellness program. No waiting period for benefits; eligible on first day of employment. Equal Opportunity Employment Pro Mach, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pro Mach uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility of all new hires to work in the United States. Pro Mach is a drug‑free workplace. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. #J-18808-Ljbffr