Mechanical Engineer

Contract Mechanical Engineer

This contract Mechanical Engineer role provides immediate engineering and manufacturing support during a temporary leave coverage assignment. You will contribute to both new product development and sustaining engineering activities for electro-mechanical and optical instrumentation in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The position requires a hands-on engineer with strong Solid Works expertise, proven experience supporting production and manufacturing operations, and the ability to quickly take ownership of engineering documentation, ECO/ECR processes, bills of materials, and design updates with minimal training.

Responsibilities

• Provide mechanical engineering support for new product development and enhancements to existing products.
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, fabrication drawings, and engineering documentation using Solid Works.
• Support manufacturing operations by troubleshooting production issues and implementing design improvements to enhance performance, quality, and reliability.
• Own and manage Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), ensuring accurate and timely updates to product designs and documentation.
• Create, maintain, and update Bills of Materials (BOMs) and associated product documentation throughout the product lifecycle.
• Coordinate with production, purchasing, and supply chain teams to ensure component availability and alignment between design intent and manufacturing requirements.
• Produce detailed fabrication drawings, assembly instructions, test procedures, and technical specifications to support manufacturing and quality activities.
• Perform dimensional, tolerance, manufacturability, and cost analyses for designs and assemblies to optimize performance and production efficiency.
• Evaluate materials, components, and manufacturing methods for performance, quality, and cost optimization.
• Support prototype builds and testing activities, and assist in transitioning designs into full production.
• Maintain project documentation and engineering records in accordance with established procedures and quality system requirements.
• Assist with technical documentation and product manuals, ensuring clarity and alignment with quality management processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, supply chain, and quality, to resolve technical issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Travel between local offices as needed to provide on-site support and coordination.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 3–7+ years of mechanical engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong proficiency with Solid Works for part, assembly, and drawing creation.
• Experience supporting electro-mechanical products and assemblies in a production setting.
• Proven experience working directly with manufacturing and production teams to resolve issues and improve designs.
• Experience managing ECO/ECR processes and maintaining accurate engineering documentation.
• Experience creating and maintaining Bills of Materials (BOMs) for complex assemblies.
• Ability to work independently and become productive quickly with minimal onboarding.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, drafting standards, and common manufacturing processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration and documentation.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience designing optical, opto-mechanical, or photonics-based instrumentation.
• Knowledge of optical components, optical mounts, positioning systems, and precision mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with spectroscopy, spectroradiometry, or related measurement instrumentation.
• Experience supporting ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Familiarity with supply chain management, sourcing, and vendor coordination.
• Experience developing instrumentation enclosures and precision fabricated assemblies.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with highly specialized optical and electro-mechanical products.
• Demonstrated ability to step into an active engineering environment and quickly support ongoing…