SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER

Align Production Systems

$90K — $120K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
  • 6-8 years in Engineer-to-Order or custom-build environment
  • Strong proficiency in SolidWorks or similar CAD software
  • Familiarity with manufacturing processes and heavy industrial equipment
  • Demonstrated ability to lead projects independently

Responsibilities

  • Lead projects from initial concept through fabrication and field commissioning
  • Act as the technical authority on complex, customized systems
  • Balance performance, cost, and schedule in design processes
  • Collaborate closely with technicians to ensure designs are effectively built
  • Debug and problem-solve designs in real time
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to meet customer requirements
  • Maintain documentation and mentor junior engineers

Benefits

  • Hands-on involvement with complex engineering projects
  • Opportunity to drive innovation in design practices
  • Mentorship and leadership development in a collaborative environment
  • Direct engagement with customers and real-world problem-solving
  • Workplace culture emphasizing ownership and initiative
Full Job Description
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: St. Louis, MO

Type: Full-Time

What You Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
  • 6-8 years of hands-on engineering experience in an Engineer-to-Order or custom-build environment - this is a firm requirement, not a preference
  • Strong proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable CAD platform
  • Deep familiarity with manufacturing processes, mechanical assemblies, and heavy industrial equipment
  • Proven ability to lead projects independently and make sound engineering decisions with incomplete information

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to bring deep technical expertise and project leadership to our St. Louis team. This isn't a role for someone who wants to refine existing designs or follow templates. You'll be the technical driver on custom heavy material handling systems - partnering directly with manufacturing, controls, and customers to deliver engineered solutions that work in the real world.

If you've spent your career in engineered-to-order environments and you're energized by complexity and ambiguity, this role was written for you.

What You'll Own

End-to-End Project Leadership
  • Lead engineering projects from initial concept through fabrication, testing, and field commissioning
  • Serve as the technical authority on complex, one-of-a-kind systems with competing constraints
  • Balance performance, cost, and schedule without sacrificing design integrity

Hands-On Engineering
  • Work directly alongside technicians and fabricators to ensure designs translate cleanly from drawing to build
  • Debug, iterate, and problem-solve in real time
  • Drive continuous improvement in design practices, build efficiency, and system performance

Cross-Functional & Customer Collaboration
  • Partner with manufacturing, controls, and sales teams to develop solutions that meet customer requirements and Align's delivery standards
  • Engage directly with customers to clarify technical scope, manage expectations, and build confidence in our solutions
  • Work closely with suppliers to source and develop optimal components within design constraints

Technical Documentation & Mentorship
  • Maintain rigorous engineering documentation, drawings, and revision histories
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building best practices across the engineering team

Who Thrives Here
  • Engineers who take ownership and drive projects forward without waiting to be told what to do next
  • People who find satisfaction in seeing a concept they created running on a production floor
  • Senior contributors who can mentor others while still doing the technical work themselves
  • Practical problem-solvers who know how to balance engineering ideals with real-world constraints

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