Mechanical Design Engineer

viaPhoton; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) 4% match

Flexible PTO

Holidays

Job summary

viaPhoton in Naperville, IL is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to design new fiber optic products from concept sketches through CAD models to customer delivery. You will collaborate with sales, operations and engineering to turn customer problems into elegant, manufacturable solutions.

A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering is required. You must be proficient in SolidWorks or similar CAD software and bring a self‑directed mindset to pick up new concepts quickly, while leading design

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Proficient in SolidWorks or similar CAD software for creating detailed product drawings and designs.
• Conceptual design experience (a plus, but not required, since we can teach you fiber optic design).
• Self-directed mindset and can pick up new concepts quickly.
• Can handle multiple inquiries at once and prioritize them with careful attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Work with sales, operations, and engineering teams to design new products that solve customer problems
• Create CAD models and dimensional drawings from sketches and verbal direction using SolidWorks
• Lead the product improvement design process, including CAD design, drawings, bill-of-materials, FEA, and cost analysis
• Analyze existing products to identify cost-reduction and improvement opportunities while maintaining design requirements
• Build prototypes to test functionality and fit, working with outside vendors to source and quote components

Skills

SolidWorks

Conceptual design

Drawing production

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Who We Are

We are changing the norm by being customer-focused, technology-led. viaPhoton is reimagining fiber optic manufacturing for the AI era. We design and deliver custom-engineered, end-to-end fiber connectivity solutions for the data centers, 5G networks, and AI infrastructure shaping the next decade, and our customers need them in weeks, not months. In five years we've grown to a team of 200+ and 4x'd our revenue in the last year alone, and we're just getting started. We're looking for people who want to do their best work with a team that's moving fast.

About the Role

You'll design new fiber optic products and improve existing ones, moving from concept sketches to detailed CAD models all the way to customer delivery. The role blends creativity with practical problem-solving. You'll work with sales and operations to turn customer problems into elegant mechanical solutions, then see them manufactured and shipped.

• Work with sales, operations, and engineering teams to design new products that solve customer problems
• Create CAD models and dimensional drawings from sketches and verbal direction using SolidWorks
• Lead the product improvement design process, including CAD design, drawings, bill-of-materials, FEA, and cost analysis
• Analyze existing products to identify cost-reduction and improvement opportunities while maintaining design requirements
• Build prototypes to test functionality and fit, working with outside vendors to source and quote components

What You'll Bring

• Have a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Are proficient in SolidWorks or similar CAD software for creating detailed product drawings and designs
• Have conceptual design experience (a plus, but not required, since we can teach you fiber optic design)
• Bring a self-directed mindset and can pick up new concepts quickly
• Can handle multiple inquiries at once and prioritize them with careful attention to detail

Want to read the full job description?

Mechanical Design Engineer JD

What's in it for you?

• Robust health, dental, and vision coverage that starts on day 1
• 401(k) with 4% match, vests immediately after a 90-day waiting period
• Flexible PTO that grows over time
• 10 paid holidays, including 2 floating holidays
• Monthly team events
• Click here to view our full benefits overview.

Location: Naperville, IL

Schedule: Mon–Fri | Onsite

Compensation: $65,000 to $85,000 base, plus annual bonus

At viaPhoton, we are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We reinforce this through our core values and beliefs as well as our processes and strategic goals. We remind team members to seek various viewpoints, learn and be hungry with curiosity, and gain trust.

We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on merit and qualifications. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, health condition, genetic information, marital or family status, military or veteran status, socioeconomic background, or any other status protected by applicable law.

We provide reasonable accommodations and adjustments throughout the hiring process. If you need one, please let us know. Any personal data you share with us is handled confidentially and in line with applicable data protection law.