Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Tenth Revolution Group; Emerald; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SwarmFarm Robotics in Queensland is seeking a hands-on Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to spearhead the mechanical systems across the SwarmFarm platform, from concept to prototype, testing and production release. You will mentor the design team and collaborate with hydraulics, electrical and software colleagues to deliver robust, field-ready machinery for harsh farm conditions.

Lead rapid prototyping, manage multiple projects, ensure designs withstand dust, mud and vibration, and deliver clean

Qualifications

• Experience leading a small engineering or technical team.
• Mechanical design of manufacturable, serviceable components and systems.
• Mobile machinery experience, preferably in agriculture.
• Hydraulic systems knowledge and loading principles.
• FEA and design validation processes.
• Hands-on fabrication, machining, welding and workshop exposure.
• CAD, manufacturing drawings, assemblies, and prototypes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of mechanical systems from concept through to production release.
• Drive rapid prototyping and testing with workshop, suppliers and field teams.
• Ensure designs are durable, simple, robust, manufacturable and easy to service.
• Collaborate with electrical, software and systems teams for integrated solutions.
• Manage multiple design projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Create CAD documentation and production-ready specifications.

Skills

Mechanical design

Team leadership

Agricultural machinery

Hydraulic systems

FEA & validation

Fabrication & workshop

CAD & drawings

Root cause analysis

Supplier sourcing

Project management

Job description

TRG (Tenth Revolution Group) is proud to be partnering exclusively with SwarmFarm Robotics, a pioneer in autonomous agriculture technology.

We are on a mission to inspire and empower farmers around the world and together is how we make it happen. Knowing your job is knowing your position on this team. Like elite athletes, we win together when everyone owns their role, trusts their teammates, and plays to their strengths. Clarity drives confidence, and confidence drives results. Let’s ensure you know your role on our team. GAME ON!

PURPOSE

The Lead Mechanical Design Engineer leads the design, prototyping, and validation of new products across the SwarmFarm platform.

This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for turning ideas into working machines, fast. You will lead from the front, working alongside the team to design, build, test, and refine the next generation of agricultural robotics.

EXPERIENCE SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Ideally, you'll bring experience across many of the following areas:

• Leading or mentoring a small engineering or technical team
• Mechanical design of practical, manufacturable, and serviceable components and systems
• Mobile machinery, ideally within agriculture or related industries
• Hydraulic systems and mechanical loading principles
• FEA and design validation processes
• Hands‑on fabrication, machining, welding, and workshop environments
• CAD, manufacturing drawings, assemblies, and prototype development
• Problem‑solving and root cause analysis
• Sourcing components and working with suppliers
• Managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast paced environment

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Mechanical System Design:

Lead the design and development of mechanical systems across the SwarmFarm robotic platform, from concept through to detailed design, prototyping, testing, and production release.

What success looks like

• New ideas move from concept to field test quickly
• Designs are simple, robust, manufacturable, and easy to service
• Problems are solved at the root cause, not patched
• Mechanical designs survive vibration, dust, mud, weather, chemical exposure, and field use
• Designs integrate cleanly with hydraulic, electrical, cooling, sensor, and software systems
• Robots perform reliably in real farm conditions

Team Leadership:

Set the standard for practical, high‑quality mechanical design across the team.

You will lead, mentor, recruit, challenge, and support the design team so they deliver strong outcomes quickly and consistently.

• Set clear priorities for the design team
• Hold people accountable for quality, speed, and outcomes
• Give direct and honest feedback
• Help the team make good trade‑off decisions

Rapid Prototyping and Development:

Lead rapid prototyping and design improvement work. You will work closely with the workshop, fabrication team, suppliers, and field teams to build, test, learn, and improve quickly.

• Turn ideas into models, drawings, parts, and prototypes quickly
• Produce practical designs that can be fabricated and tested
• Work with the workshop team to build and modify prototype components
• Use feedback from testing, field use, manufacturing, and service teams to improve designs
• Be comfortable with raw feedback and fast iteration
• Know when a design is good enough to prototype and when it needs more engineering work

Mechanical Engineering:

• Take ownership of moving design decisions forward, making calls where appropriate and bringing in the right people early for higher‑impact trade‑offs. Take ownership of creating momentum in moving design decisions forward and collaborate with the right people to deliver outcomes
• Design for durability, simplicity, serviceability, and reliability
• Understand mechanical loads, stresses, vibration, fatigue, and field failure modes
• Work with hydraulic systems and understand how mechanical design affects hydraulic performance, routing, serviceability, and reliability
• Integrate mechanical designs with electrical, software, sensors, cooling, and manufacturing requirements
• Use sound engineering judgement to balance strength, cost, weight, manufacturability, and repairability
• Make design decisions with imperfect information while bringing in the right people for important trade‑offs
• Contribute directly to CAD design work when required
• Best practices in mechanical engineering and apply this knowledge to SwarmFarms product

CAD Modelling & Engineering Documentation:

• Develop concepts, assemblies, production drawings, brackets, mounts, and revisions
• Quickly produce DXFs and fabrication information for prototyping
• Maintain clean CAD structure, drawings, part revisions, and design records
• Ensure drawings are useful for manufacturing, fabrication, and suppliers
• Create documentation that helps the team build, service, and improve the machine

Field Testing and Validation:

• Participate in prototype testing and field trials
• Analyse failures and test outcomes
• Identify root causes and drive permanent fixes
• Validate mechanical designs for strength, vibration, fatigue, serviceability, reliability, and field durability
• Ensure designs are tested against real farming conditions, not just CAD assumptions

Design Quality and Engineering Standards:

Ensure designs meet SwarmFarm performance, reliability and safety expectations. Apply strong mechanical engineering judgement to system design decisions Identify opportunities to improve reliability, simplicity and cost

Multi Project Management:

Manage multiple design and prototype projects simultaneously
Balance rapid development work with longer term design improvements
Maintain progress and momentum across projects in a fast paced environment

Supplier Collaboration:

• Source practical components and fabrication options
• Build strong relationships with suppliers
• Work with laser cutters, CNC folders, fabricators, powder coaters, component suppliers, and engineering partners
• Coordinate prototype parts and supplier‑built components
• Evaluate supplier capability, quality, cost, and turnaround time Design parts that suppliers can manufacture reliably

Cross Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with electrical, software and systems teams to achieve practical workable outcomes
• Ensure mechanical systems integrate effectively with other subsystems
• Collaborate with the manufacturing team to ensure designs are production ready.

Budget and Resource Management:

• Manage project budgets and allocate resources efficiently
• Provide regular progress reports to senior management and stakeholders

Why SwarmFarm?

SwarmFarm is driven by three core values:

• It Matters - Making a real difference for farmers and sustainable agriculture
• Get It Done - Solutions‑focused and committed to delivering results
• We Win Together - Success is shared across customers, partners, and team members