Job Description:POSITION OVERVIEWThe primary mission of this role is to design, develop & support custom machinery and robotics equipment for the automotive, consumer goods, material handling and food packaging industries. This role involves translating customer specifications into robust machine designs, creating detailed CAD models and drawings, selecting components, and ensuring designs are manufacturable, safe, and compliant with applicable standards. The engineer collaborates closely with controls, electrical, manufacturing, and project management teams to ensure seamless integration, resolves technical issues during build and debug, and supports factory acceptance testing and on-site startup as needed, all while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and long-term reliability. Success in this role requires a high level of creativity and the ability to exercise independent judgment to develop functional designs that align with customer requirements.
TOP 5 RESPONSIBILITIES1. Lead Mechanical Design of Major Systems or Projects: Own architecture, integration, and technical outcomes.
2. Drive Cross-Functional Design Reviews: Ensure designs meet safety, manufacturability, and performance requirements.
3. Manage Technical Risk and Design Tradeoffs: Identify risks early and propose mitigation strategies.
4. Support Coordinators with Planning and Estimating: Provide input on scope, effort, and feasibility.
5. Mentor Level I & II Engineers: Provide day-to-day guidance and technical support.
QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 5-10 years of experience in custom automation or complex machinery design
- Proven experience owning full machines or large subsystems from concept through FAT/startup
- Strong understanding of machine architecture, system integration, and lifecycle impacts
- Demonstrated ability to identify technical risks and manage design tradeoffs
- Advanced proficiency in CAD, PLM, and configuration control
- Experience leading design reviews and making sound engineering decisions
- Ability to estimate effort, assess feasibility, and support project planning
- Proven mentoring capability and technical leadership presence
- Strong communication skills, including customer-facing and cross-disciplinary discussions
WORK ENVIRONMENT- Ability to work in office, manufacturing, and customer-site environments.
- Ability to safely work around industrial automation equipment, and follow required PPE and safety procedures.
- Travel up to 10-25% may be required based on project and customer support needs.
WHAT WE OFFERAlliance Automation benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Hourly/Salary Wage Based on Experience
- Paid Vacation
- Sick Time
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability
- 401k & Company Match
- Parental Leave
- We provide our employees with a safe, clean, climate-controlled work environment.