Senior Mechanical Automation Engineer

Job Title: Sr. Automation & Mechanical Design Engineer (R&D Lab Focus)
Location: Greater Orland Park, IL
Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 (flexible based on experience; no bonus)
Level: Senior

Overview:

We are seeking a Senior Automation & Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the development of innovative, custom automation solutions for complex small-component assemblies. This role is rooted in hands-on research, mechanical design, and real-world application, not plug-and-play automation. You'll be joining a tight-knit engineering team working on projects too unique and confidential to outsource - the kind of work where you invent the tool, rather than buy it.

As a Sr. Automation Engineer, You Will:

You'll innovate and enhance assembly methods for our expanding product line. From custom fixturing to advanced automation using robots and cobots, you'll design and prototype cutting-edge manufacturing systems and seamlessly integrate them into new and existing assembly lines. You'll validate success through rigorous lab testing and real-world trials on factory floors.

Innovation Starts Here:

Our work environment is built to spark creativity. You'll have access to a 200,000 sq. ft. Innovation Center in Orlan Park, Illinois, featuring 18 advanced laboratories and a state-of-the-art rapid modeling tool room. This space - combined with the autonomy of our project-based approach - allows you to think differently, experiment boldly, and bring big ideas to life.

What You Will Do:

• Innovate and Implement: Research, analyze, and implement new manufacturing practices, often from scratch.

• Advanced Engineering: Design custom mechanical automation solutions in CAD, solve real-world production problems (jigs, fixtures, small assemblies).

• Prototyping & Testing: Build and validate functional prototypes in a specialized lab focused on high-precision work like fiber optics, sensors, and tiny mechanical parts (think watchmaking scale).

• Technical Investigation: Study manual processes and identify areas for automation that are product-specific and not available off-the-shelf.

• Project Leadership: Manage technical aspects of projects, ensuring deliverables are met on time and within budget.

• Collaboration: Participate in a large annual project while supporting 1-2 smaller ones. Partner with engineers across multiple locations.

• Mentorship: Support and mirror two senior engineers currently leading new innovations.

• Factory Integration: Travel to partner factories (Lockport, GA, Orlando Park, China) 2-3 times per year for on-site implementation and validation.

What You Will Bring:

• Education: BS in Engineering required; BSME, MET, or Mechatronics preferred.

• Experience: Minimum 5-7 years' experience in automation, mechanical design, or small-component assembly systems.

• Technical Skills:

  • Strong mechanical design experience (CAD required).

  • Understanding of robotics, cobots, sensors, and vision systems (e.g., Cognex).

  • Experience with electromechanical equipment and system-level thinking.

  • Familiarity with Allen Bradley systems is a plus, but not a requirement.

• Approach: Innovative mindset with practical, shop-floor problem-solving skills.

• Communication: Ability to deliver technical presentations and interface with customers and suppliers.

• Leadership: Willingness to mentor and grow within a creative, engineering-driven team.

Note: This is not a role for someone who configures pre-built automation. We're looking for a true mechanical automation innovator - someone who sees a manual process and envisions something entirely new to replace it.