Engineering Manager (Mechanical Design)

Engineering Search Firm Inc; Vaughan; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company is seeking an Engineering Manager in Vaughan, Canada, to lead and mentor a team of mechanical design engineers. This role emphasizes strategic oversight, team development, and process improvement to elevate engineering excellence. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in mechanical design related to automation and a strong background in leadership and CAD tools such as SolidWorks. Excellent communication skills are essential for this position.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience as a mechanical designer in automation, robotics, packaging machinery, or custom machine building.
• Strong leadership ability with either informal or formal team-leading experience.
• Deep understanding of CAD (SolidWorks preferred), GD&T, pneumatics, servo systems, and mechanical fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of mechanical design engineers of various levels.
• Provide strategic technical oversight to ensure design quality and safety.
• Plan and allocate engineering resources across multiple automation projects.

Skills

Leadership

Mechanical Design

CAD (SolidWorks preferred)

Communication

Problem-solving

Job description

Overview

We’re looking for an Engineering Manager who is ready to step out of day-to-day design work and into a full leadership role within the mechanical engineering department. This position is ideal for a senior mechanical designer with extensive automation experience who now wants to lead people, guide technical direction, and elevate engineering excellence across the organization.

In this role, you will oversee the full mechanical design function—from technical planning and resource management to coaching designers, improving processes, and ensuring that our equipment meets the company's standards of innovation, speed, and precision. You will partner with cross-functional teams, remove roadblocks, and create an environment where engineers can perform at their highest level.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & People Development

• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of mechanical design engineers (junior, intermediate, senior, etc).
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and provide career development guidance.
• Build a high-performance team culture centered on accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and talent development for the mechanical engineering department.

Technical Direction & Design Excellence

• Provide strategic technical oversight without doing the design work.
• Ensure all designs meet Pack-Smart’s standards for quality, manufacturability, reliability, and safety.
• Lead and facilitate design reviews, offering guidance grounded in strong mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Set and maintain best practices for CAD modeling, GD&T, documentation, and engineering calculations.

Project & Resource Management

• Plan and allocate engineering resources across multiple automation projects.
• Set priorities, manage timelines, and ensure engineering deliverables are executed effectively.
• Oversee engineering change requests (ECR/ECO) and ensure smooth documentation flow.
• Collaborate with electrical engineering, controls, manufacturing, and procurement to align project milestones.

Process Improvement & Operational Leadership

• Drive continuous improvement in engineering workflows, design processes, and documentation standards.
• Implement systems that increase team productivity, reduce rework, and streamline communication.
• Support company-wide initiatives such as standardization, modular design, and design-for-manufacturing.
• You will manage a team of up to 10 individuals.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience as a mechanical designer in automation, robotics, packaging machinery, or custom machine building.
• Strong leadership ability with either informal or formal team-leading experience.
• Deep understanding of CAD (SolidWorks preferred), GD&T, pneumatics, servo systems, and mechanical fundamentals.
• Proven ability to manage timelines, coordinate teams, and solve cross-functional challenges.
• Excellent communication, mentorship, and decision-making skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience overseeing engineering processes or project coordination.
• Familiarity with PDM systems and structured document control.
• Exposure to Lean manufacturing or process improvement methodologies.