Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

This Mechanical Design Engineer role focuses on developing advanced mechanical designs for both standard and custom plastic assembly products that meet performance specifications, project schedules, and cost targets. The position is heavily oriented toward new product development, with approximately three-quarters of your time devoted to design and development work and the remainder supporting broader engineering activities. You will work on complex industrial equipment, contributing to robust, reliable, and high-quality designs while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in a hands-on, lab-based environment.

• Develop advanced mechanical designs for standard and custom plastic assembly products that meet defined specifications, schedules, and cost requirements.
• Spend approximately 75% of working time on new product development activities and the remaining time on engineering support duties.
• Evaluate and select components and materials used in products to improve reliability, robustness, and overall quality of design.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation required for product development and manufacturing, ensuring it conforms to established engineering and company standards.
• Use 3D CAD tools to design industrial equipment, producing models, assemblies, and detailed drawings suitable for manufacturing and assembly.
• Support the development of industrial machinery and equipment, ideally including electro-mechanical systems, automation, or motion-based systems.
• Run lab experiments and testing on prototypes and components, document procedures and results, and analyze data to drive design improvements.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles to ensure designs are efficient to produce, assemble, and maintain.
• Collaborate with other engineers, technicians, and production personnel to resolve design issues and support continuous improvement of existing products.
• Incorporate material science considerations into designs, selecting appropriate materials and understanding their impact on performance and manufacturability.
• Contribute to the refinement of motion systems and controls where applicable, working with multidisciplinary teams to integrate mechanical and control elements.
• Provide hands-on support in the lab and on the shop floor, including building, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems and prototypes.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, with a preference for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).
• At least 3 years of experience designing industrial equipment.
• Hands-on 3D CAD design skills, with experience using Autodesk Inventor or Creo strongly preferred.
• Proven experience designing industrial equipment, ideally including machinery, automation, or industrial systems.
• Strong practical mechanical aptitude and comfort working with tools and equipment in a hands-on environment.
• Ability to run lab experiments and testing, including setting up tests, documenting procedures and results, and analyzing data.
• Good understanding of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles and their application in real-world designs.
• Solid foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals, including mechanisms, structures, and manufacturing processes.

• Experience with custom automation equipment is a plus.
• Hands-on knowledge of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a plus.
• Knowledge of motion systems control is a plus.
• Familiarity with material science principles and their application in product design is a plus.
• Background in electro-mechanical systems, machinery, automation, or industrial equipment is highly desirable.
• Interest in hands-on activities such as fixing equipment, working on vehicles, or other practical mechanical hobbies is valued.
• Experience working in a family-oriented, collaborative engineering environment is beneficial.

This role is based in a family-owned organization with a very family-driven culture that emphasizes collaboration, respect, and long-term relationships. You will work on a complex product line, providing continuous opportunities to be challenged and to deepen your technical expertise. The environment combines office-based engineering work with hands-on lab and shop-floor activities, including building, testing, and refining mechanical and industrial equipment.

You will regularly use modern 3D CAD tools such as Autodesk Inventor or Creo, along with lab equipment for experiments and testing. The culture values practical, hands-on engineers who enjoy working with tools, solving problems directly at the equipment, and contributing to a supportive, close-knit team.

This is a Permanent position based out of West Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $115000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills,…