Engineering Team Lead

Bell & Associates, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Bell & Associates, Inc. seeks a Machine Design Team Lead to drive the design, development, and validation of high-speed industrial machinery. You will partner with Tooling, Controls, Operations, Sales, and Product Management to meet performance and cost goals while upholding engineering standards.

You will lead a small team, apply analytical methods and FEA, and ensure designs are manufacturable and field-ready, with rigorous validation and design reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in high-speed machine design in an OEM packaging/automation environment.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD (Inventor or SolidWorks) and FEA.
• Experience with design rigor, validation, testing, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and development of high-speed automated machinery from concept through production release.
• Establish and maintain engineering design standards, best practices, and design review processes.
• Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and cost objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team to enhance performance and professional growth.
• Apply engineering rigor through analytical methods, calculations, simulations, and structured validation activities.
• Collaborate with operations to ensure efficient manufacturing processes.
• Partner with sales, engineering, and service teams to ensure successful machine integration and field support.

Skills

3D CAD

FEA analysis

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Inventor

SolidWorks

Job description

The Machine Design Team Lead is responsible for leading the design, development, and validation of high-speed industrial machinery. This role combines technical leadership, people development, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver innovative, reliable, and manufacturable machine solutions. The Machine Design Team Lead partners closely with the Tooling and Controls Leads, Operations, Sales, and Product Management to ensure projects meet performance, quality, cost, and schedule objectives while maintaining rigorous engineering standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the mechanical design and development of high-speed automated machinery from concept through production release.
• Establish and maintain engineering design standards, best practices, and design review processes.
• Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and cost objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team to enhance performance and professional growth.
• Apply engineering rigor through analytical methods, calculations, simulations, and structured validation activities.
• Utilize Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and other engineering tools to validate designs and improve performance.
• Develop and execute design verification and validation plans to ensure product requirements are met.
• Partner with operations to ensure efficient manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with sales, engineering, and service teams to ensure successful machine integration and support in the field.
• Provide regular status updates and technical recommendations to engineering leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to engineering processes, tools, and product performance.
• Establish clear performance goals, monitor progress, and conduct regular performance reviews.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-driven team culture.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering field.
• High speed (200-300 cycles/minute) machine design experience in a design lead role within an OEM machinery, packaging, automation, or related manufacturing environment. Would expect 5+ years in a similar role but actual experience, responsibility, and ownership will take precedence.
• Strong proficiency with 3D CAD software (Inventor or SolidWorks)
• Experience performing and interpreting FEA analysis.
• Experience with design rigor, validation, testing, and documentation.