Mechanical Design Engineer

NextPlay Jobs; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

NextPlay Jobs in Grand Rapids, Michigan seeks an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to develop and improve mechanical designs for industrial equipment, taking projects from concept to production.

You will design components using 3D CAD, create drawings and BOMs, and collaborate with manufacturing and cross‑functional teams to ensure manufacturability, reliability, and cost efficiency. This hands‑on role emphasizes solving complex mechanical problems and supporting prototypes and testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of mechanical design experience in manufacturing.
• Strong CAD experience and understanding of tolerances.
• Experience with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with industry codes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies using 3D CAD.
• Create detailed drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing docs.
• Own projects from concept through production.
• Improve designs for performance, reliability, and cost.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing, quality, and engineering teams.
• Support prototype testing and validation.
• Conduct tolerance analysis and engineering calculations.
• Review designs for manufacturability and compliance.
• Troubleshoot issues and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain documentation and revision control.

Skills

3D CAD

Team collaboration

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

GD&T

Excel

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to join a growing engineering and manufacturing organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This role will be responsible for developing and improving mechanical designs for industrial equipment and systems, taking projects from concept and design through production and implementation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands‑on engineer who enjoys solving complex mechanical problems, working closely with manufacturing, and seeing their designs move from CAD to the finished product.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components, assemblies, and equipment using 3D CAD software.
• Create detailed engineering drawings, layouts, bills of materials, and other manufacturing documentation.
• Take ownership of mechanical design projects from initial concept through production.
• Develop new designs and modify existing products to improve performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, quality, and other internal teams to ensure successful product development.
• Work closely with customers and internal stakeholders to understand design requirements and develop effective solutions.
• Perform engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, and design evaluations as needed.
• Select appropriate materials, components, hardware, and mechanical systems for new designs.
• Review designs for manufacturability, functionality, safety, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Troubleshoot mechanical design and production issues and implement corrective solutions.
• Support prototype development, testing, and validation of new and modified designs.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical recommendations.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation and revision control.
• Assist manufacturing teams with technical questions, drawing interpretation, and design-related issues.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in products, processes, and engineering standards.
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously while managing priorities, deadlines, and engineering deliverables.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of mechanical design engineering experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong experience with 3D CAD software and mechanical design.
• Ability to create and interpret detailed engineering drawings.
• Strong understanding of mechanical components, materials, tolerances, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience designing mechanical assemblies and equipment.
• Ability to work effectively with manufacturing and cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Preferred

• Experience with industrial equipment, machinery, material handling, or bulk material handling systems.
• Experience with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD platforms.
• Experience with sheet metal, structural steel, machining, welding, or fabricated components.
• Experience with GD&T and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Experience designing for manufacturability and assembly.
• Experience supporting product development from concept through production.
• Experience working directly with customers or providing technical customer support.
• Familiarity with engineering standards and applicable industry codes.

Not a Fit

Applicants whose experience is primarily in the following areas may be less aligned:

• Primarily architectural or building design without mechanical equipment experience.
• CAD drafting-only positions without engineering design ownership.
• Roles focused exclusively on maintenance rather than mechanical design and product development.
• Base salary generally ranges from $80,000-$110,000, depending on experience.
• Exceptional candidates with strong industry experience may be considered toward the top of the range.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunity for professional development and career advancement.