Mechanical Design Engineer - Automation & Product Development

Design machines that customers use every day.

STL is a family‑owned manufacturing company in Gresham, Oregon, with about 100 employees. Founded in 1992, STL began as a self‑adhesive label manufacturer and has grown into a company serving multiple markets through label printing, security labels for data protection, and custom product development.

Our customers often come to us with difficult problems that standard products do not solve. That problem‑solving culture led us to develop Prin Trayce, our internal automation equipment group focused on compact machines that print and apply labels in challenging manufacturing environments.

Prin Trayce equipment is already being used in the fruit and produce industry in Yakima, Washington, and we are now seeing demand from additional markets including packaging, distribution, manufacturing, and OEM automation integrators.

Our engineering team is entering a growth phase. We have active customer demand, a growing product line, and a need to keep improving our equipment quickly and intelligently.

We are looking for someone who wants to understand the product, the customer, the manufacturing process, and the business opportunity. The right person will study our machines, ask good questions, bring new ideas, and help us build equipment that is simpler, more reliable, easier to assemble, and easier to sell.

This role is not just about completing assigned drawings. One week you might design a new mechanism in CAD; the next, you may be assembling a prototype, testing it, improving it, and seeing it installed at a customer site.

You will work closely with a small internal team that includes mechanical design, software, assembly, installation, and technical support. This is a role for someone who can communicate with technicians, vendors, customers, and other engineers.

In the first six months, you will be expected to learn our current product lineup, contribute to active design improvements, support prototype testing, create production‑ready documentation and begin owning meaningful subsystems or product improvements.

• Research and evaluate new technologies, materials, sensors, print engines, manufacturing methods, and design approaches that could improve our products.
• Design mechanical components and assemblies for new automation equipment.
• Create production‑ready CAD models, drawings, and BOMs.
• Design for manufacturability using sheet metal, machined components, plastics and 3D printed parts.
• Build and test prototypes.
• Work directly with engineers, technicians and production personnel to improve designs.
• Troubleshoot mechanical problems and implement design improvements.
• Support the transition from prototype to production.
• Occasionally assist with customer installations or field improvements.

We’re looking for someone who has already proven themselves in a professional engineering environment. We value demonstrated performance and initiative more than a specific number of years of experience.

Applicants are encouraged to include a portfolio, project photos, CAD examples, product examples, or a short description of a machine, product, fixture, or mechanism they helped design and bring to life.

Ideal candidates will have:

• 3-8 years of mechanical design experience.
• Strong 3D CAD skills, such as Onshape, Solid Works, Fusion 360, or similar.
• Experience designing products from concept through manufacturing.
• Understanding of machining, sheet metal, plastics and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to balance creativity with practical engineering.
• Strong problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Comfort moving between CAD, the shop floor, prototype assembly, testing, vendor conversations, and customer feedback.

Experience with any of the following is a plus:

• Packaging equipment
• Labeling systems
• Servo systems
• Sensors and controls integration
• 3D printing
• Design for assembly
• Small production manufacturing

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys creating products to solve real‑world problems.

You’ll probably enjoy this role if you:

• Are self‑directed and do not need every task fully defined before making progress.
• Naturally…