Mechanical Design Engineer

Bluewater Hayes Inc.; Jackson (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Bluewater Hayes Inc. is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer with strong SolidWorks experience to join its team. This hands-on role focuses on 3D CAD, detailed fabrication drawings, assemblies, GD&T, and custom mechanical design for steel fabrications and installations.

You will translate customer requirements into manufacturable designs, work with customers and manufacturing partners, and produce drawings for quoting, manufacturing, and purchasing. Office-based with some site visits.

Qualifications

• Strong SolidWorks experience; CAD-heavy position with daily use of SolidWorks.
• Detailed 3D models, assemblies, weldments, and manufacturing/fabrication drawings.
• Solid understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and its application to drawings.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specs, sketches, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design custom mechanical components, assemblies, and fabrication packages using SolidWorks.
• Create detailed part, assembly, weldment, and fabrication drawings for customized projects.
• Develop steel fabrication designs including frames, bases, mounts, and related components.
• Apply GD&T to drawings for fit, function, and manufacturability.
• Manage drawing revisions through quoting, engineering, and production lifecycle.
• Collaborate with fabrication shops to resolve fit-up, tolerancing, and manufacturability questions.
• Translate customer requirements into practical, manufacturable designs.
• Prepare engineering drawings/docs for quoting, manufacturing, purchasing, and customer applications.
• Maintain drawing standards, CAD files, and revision control.
• Provide technical support to customers, sales teams, and project personnel.
• Participate in project meetings with management, customer service, manufacturing, and engineering teams.
• Assist with product improvements and new designs.

Skills

SolidWorks

3D CAD

GD&T

Fabrication drawings

Assemblies

Education

Mechanical engineering degree

3+ years of experience

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Our client, a growing engineering and manufacturing company, is looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer with strong SolidWorks experience to join its team. This is a hands-on engineering role with a significant focus on 3D CAD, detailed fabrication drawings, assemblies, GD&T, and custom mechanical design.

The ideal candidate enjoys taking an engineering concept or customer requirement and turning it into a manufacturable design. You’ll work on highly customized projects involving steel fabrications, assemblies, structural components, and installation‑related hardware, while collaborating closely with customers, project teams, and manufacturing partners.

What You’ll Do

• Design and develop custom mechanical components, assemblies, and fabrication packages using SolidWorks.
• Create detailed part, assembly, weldment, and fabrication drawings for highly customized projects.
• Develop complex steel fabrication designs, including frames, base structures, mounting assemblies, shims, anchor layouts, and related components.
• Apply GD&T to drawings to ensure proper fit, function, and manufacturability.
• Manage drawing revisions as designs evolve throughout the quoting, engineering, and production process.
• Work directly with fabrication shops and manufacturing personnel to resolve fit‑up, tolerancing, welding, and manufacturability questions.
• Interpret customer requirements, engineering specifications, sketches, and technical documentation and translate them into practical designs.
• Support the preparation of engineering drawings and documentation used for quoting, manufacturing, purchasing, and customer applications.
• Maintain drawing standards, CAD files, engineering documentation, and revision control.
• Provide technical support to customers, sales teams, and internal project personnel.
• Participate in project meetings and collaborate with project management, customer service, manufacturing, and engineering teams.
• Assist with product improvements and the development of new products and applications.
• Help identify and resolve technical issues proactively throughout the project lifecycle.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong SolidWorks experience is required. This is a CAD‑heavy position with daily use of SolidWorks.
• Experience creating detailed 3D models, assemblies, weldments, and manufacturing/fabrication drawings.
• Solid understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and its application to detailed engineering drawings.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, sketches, and technical documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of drawing accuracy.
• Ability to take an incomplete concept or set of requirements and develop a practical, manufacturable solution.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with customers, engineers, project managers, and manufacturing personnel.
• Organized and comfortable managing multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Mechanical engineering degree or related engineering degree preferred.
• 3+ years of relevant engineering/design experience preferred, although candidates with strong SolidWorks experience and the right technical foundation may also be considered.
• Experience with fabrication, machinery, industrial equipment, manufacturing, structural components, or custom mechanical design is a plus.

Why This Opportunity?

• Heavy SolidWorks/design work — not a role where CAD is an occasional responsibility.
• Work on highly customized mechanical designs rather than repetitive, off‑the‑shelf products.
• Direct interaction with manufacturing and fabrication teams.
• Variety of projects and applications across multiple industrial markets.
• Primarily office‑based with limited site visits depending on project needs.
• Standard business hours with occasional additional time needed around project deadlines.

The Right Fit

This role could be a particularly strong fit for a Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanical Designer, Design Engineer, Applications Engineer, or Project Engineer who wants to spend more of their time actually designing in SolidWorks.

If you enjoy 3D CAD, detailed drawings, weldments, GD&T, custom machinery/components, and solving real‑world mechanical design problems, this is worth applying to!