Senior Mechanical Design Engineer — Custom Automation

Job Title:
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

About the Role:

We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join an automation engineering team responsible for designing and developing custom semi-automated manufacturing equipment for next-generation fiber optic connector products.

In this role, you will own complex machine designs from concept through build, creating complete Solid Works assemblies, detailed manufacturing drawings, and specifying all required mechanical components. You will also provide technical guidance to junior mechanical engineers while driving the development of new equipment. This position focuses exclusively on new machine design rather than manufacturing support or production engineering, with a strong pipeline of future product development projects.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the mechanical design of complex custom semi-automated equipment using Solid Works.

Develop complete 3D models, assemblies, and detailed 2D manufacturing drawings.

Manage engineering files and revisions using Solid Works PDM.

Apply GD&T principles and perform tolerance stack-up analysis.

Select and specify mechanical components, including bearings, actuators, pneumatic systems, linear motion components, sensors, and other purchased parts.

Design equipment for manufacturability, assembly, maintenance, and operator usability.

Build, assemble, prototype, test, debug, and qualify equipment in a laboratory environment.

Collaborate closely with controls engineers to integrate mechanical systems with PLCs, vision systems, and robotics.

Support installation, commissioning, and deployment of equipment into production environments.

Provide technical leadership and mentor junior mechanical engineers throughout the design process.

Required Qualifications:

5+ years of experience designing custom automation or semi-automated machinery.

Expert-level proficiency with Solid Works, including complex assemblies and mechanical system design.

Hands-on experience using Solid Works PDM for file management and revision control.

Strong knowledge of GD&T and mechanical tolerance analysis.

Experience selecting and integrating off-the-shelf mechanical components into custom equipment.

Hands-on experience building, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical equipment in a lab environment.

Ability to independently lead mechanical design projects and mentor junior engineers.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience designing equipment for medical device manufacturing, precision assembly, or other highly regulated industries.

Hands-on experience working on medical device products or manufacturing equipment.

Experience designing benchtop or tabletop semi-automated equipment.

Familiarity with mechanical integration of PLC-controlled automation, robotics, and vision systems.

Previous experience with a custom automation equipment builder or system integrator.

Experience designing high-precision equipment for small form-factor products, including medical devices, electronics, or fiber optic assemblies.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.