Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer North Carolina – Garner/Raleigh or Battleboro Custom Automation & Packaging Machinery I’m supporting a North Carolina manufacturer that designs, engineers, and builds fully custom automation and packaging systems in-house. They are hiring a Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to take full ownership of machine development — from concept and prototyping through final testing and customer delivery. This is not a task-taking role. Their VP and Director want a true technical leader who can drive mechanical development, make decisions, and guide projects without micromanagement. Location Options This role can sit at either: Raleigh, NC Relocation assistance + sign-on bonus. Immediate interviews and facility tours. What You Will Lead Full lifecycle mechanical design of custom and standard automation/packaging machinery using SolidWorks and structured Engineering Development / Stage-Gate processes. Technical ownership of projects: schedule and run design reviews, coordinate with manufacturing, and control the mechanical development path. Prototype & build leadership: Work with machinists, fabricators, and assembly technicians to validate, refine, and improve designs. Cross-functional integration: Collaborate closely with Controls Engineering, Product Line Managers, R&D, and Service to ensure designs are reliable, manufacturable, and field-supportable. R&D pipeline execution: Provide senior horsepower needed to launch new machine concepts waiting for development bandwidth. Mentorship & influence: Coach mid-level engineers, elevate design standards, and set the benchmark for mechanical engineering excellence. Create and manage 3D CAD models, layouts, BOMs, and detailed drawings. Apply strong understanding of motors, actuators, pneumatics, sensors, drives, and automation components to guide mechanical decisions. Lead prototype builds, debugging, and final machine testing. Ensure project compliance with documentation, safety standards, design reviews, and Stage-Gate requirements. Drive continuous improvement across design processes, tools, engineering workflows, and product quality. Participate in assembly testing, competitive product evaluations, and process ECNs. Why This Role Stands Out You own machines from concept → customer delivery Zero red tape — fast decisions and high engineering autonomy Deep in-house capability: full machine shop, fabrication, assembly, controls, and testing Large R&D runway for next-gen machines High visibility with VP, Director, and Engineering leadership Hands-on, technical leadership role—not management overhead Required Background 7+ years mechanical design experience in packaging machinery, industrial automation, or capital equipment. Strong proficiency in SolidWorks and PDM/data management. Proven success driving projects through formal engineering processes (Stage Gate, VA/VE, NPD, etc.). Strong understanding of machine controls components (motors, drives, sensors, pneumatics, HMIs, PLC interfaces). Hands-on experience with machining, fabrication, assembly, and DFM. Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. Deep mechanical systems knowledge and machine/tooling design experience. Strong computer skills (CAD + Microsoft Office). Independent, decisive, and able to work with minimal oversight. Preferred Skills GD&T Simulation / stress / material analysis MRP/ERP systems, multi-level BOMs Strong engineering discipline and design standards Desire to be hands-on with machinery and testing What You Get Competitive compensation + relocation package + sign-on bonus Benefits active Day 1 (medical, dental, life insurance, PTO, 401(k) with match) Clear technical career advancement Highly collaborative environment where innovation is implemented quickly Stability, growth, and long-term engineering career potential Interested? Apply now and let’s connect.