MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER

Align Production Systems; Illinois; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Align Production Systems in Decatur, IL is seeking a Design Engineer II to own the design and release of custom material handling equipment from concept through manufacturing handoff. This role emphasizes hydraulic system design and serving as the on-site engineering presence on the Decatur floor.

The ideal candidate holds a Mechanical Engineering degree with hands-on design experience in ETO or custom manufacturing, plus SolidWorks proficiency and strong release/documentation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Design engineering experience in an engineer-to-order or custom manufacturing environment.
• Hydraulic system design experience: circuit design, component selection, and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD platform.
• Experience with engineering release processes — drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing-ready documentation.
• Working knowledge of fabrication processes: laser cutting, forming, welding, and machining.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical design on ETO projects through release to manufacturing
• Develop complete engineering packages: 3D models, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and BOMs
• Manage detail and drafting; own the release process for all assigned projects
• Coordinate with the Decatur manufacturing team to ensure a clean handoff
• Serve as the hydraulics resource for design and field support
• Host factory acceptance testing with customer interface

Skills

Mechanical design

Hydraulic design

Project coordination

Manufacturing liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Acumatica ERP

Job description

Job Description

ALIGN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Design Engineer II

Decatur, IL | Full-Time, Exempt

LOCATION

Decatur, IL

DEPARTMENT

Engineering

REPORTS TO

Customer Program Manager

TYPE

Full-Time, Exempt

ABOUT ALIGN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Align Production Systems (APS) is an engineer-to-order capital equipment manufacturer specializing in automated guided vehicles, welding positioners, turntables, transporters, and custom material handling solutions for Fortune 500 manufacturers. Our Decatur, Illinois facility is our manufacturing hub. We run Monday through Friday, first shift only — no weekends, no holidays, no rotating schedules.

THE ROLE

The Design Engineer II owns the design and release of custom material handling equipment from concept through manufacturing handoff. This role also carries specific technical accountability for hydraulic system design and laser nesting operations, and serves as the primary on-site engineering presence for the Decatur manufacturing floor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Engineering & Release

• Mechanical design on ETO projects through release to manufacturing
• Develop complete engineering packages: 3D models, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and BOMs
• Manage detail and drafting; own the release process for all assigned projects
• Coordinate with the Decatur manufacturing team to ensure a clean handoff

Hydraulic System Design

• Design hydraulic systems including circuit layout, component selection, and schematic development
• Select and specify valves, cylinders, pumps, manifolds, and hose assemblies
• Serve as the engineering team's hydraulics resource for new design and post-delivery field support

On-Site Manufacturing Support

• Serve as the primary on-site engineering presence for the Decatur floor in partnership with Manufacturing Engineer and Plant Leadership
• Resolve floor-level technical questions, in-process decisions, and build clarifications in real time
• Host factory acceptance testing with customer interface

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Design engineering experience in an engineer-to-order or custom manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated hydraulic system design experience: circuit design, component selection, and troubleshooting
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD platform
• Experience with engineering release processes — drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing-ready documentation
• Working knowledge of fabrication processes: laser cutting, forming, welding, and machining

Preferred

• Familiarity with AGVs, transporters, positioners, or heavy material handling equipment
• Experience with Acumatica ERP or similar manufacturing platforms