Mechanical Design Engineer

Vaco by Highspring; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Life insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan with company match

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer for our Raleigh, NC team. You will design automated machinery, create 3D models and detailed drawings using SolidWorks and AutoCAD, and develop BOMs within ERP.

Collaboration with manufacturing, sales, and service teams ensures successful upgrades and rebuilds. The ideal candidate has 3-4+ years in mechanical design, strong CAD skills, and experience with automated machinery.

Qualifications

• 3-4+ years of mechanical design and/or application engineering experience.
• Hands-on proficiency with SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Experience designing machined and fabricated components for automated machinery or similar systems.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems and sensors in automated machinery.
• Understanding of product handling, machining capabilities, manufacturing methods and assembly principles.
• Experience producing detailed mechanical drawings and BOMs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, plus ERP experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop custom automated machinery and mechanical systems based on customer specifications and equipment performance needs.
• Create 3D models, detailed drawings, assemblies, and layouts using SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Design machined and fabricated components (shafts, bearings, housings, mounting plates, weldments, sheet metal).
• Apply materials, GD&T, machining practices, and assembly considerations for safe, manufacturable designs.
• Develop and maintain BOMs and engineering docs in ERP; support changes and revisions.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and assembly to resolve fabrication and testing issues.
• Work with Sales, Purchasing, Production, Field Service and other teams to meet requirements and schedules.

Skills

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

BOM

ERP

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SyteLine ERP

Job description

Our client is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join its engineering team in Raleigh, North Carolina. This role will be responsible for the mechanical design and development of automated machinery, supporting projects from initial customer requirements and system configuration through detailed design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing. The Mechanical Design Engineer will create custom components and equipment layouts using SolidWorks and AutoCAD, develop detailed manufacturing drawings and Bills of Material, and collaborate with sales, purchasing, production, assembly, and service teams. This is an onsite position with occasional travel to customer locations, primarily to gather technical information for equipment upgrades and rebuild designs.

Core Responsibilities

• Design and develop custom automated machinery and mechanical systems based on customer specifications, application requirements, and equipment performance needs.
• Create 3D models, detailed manufacturing drawings, assemblies, subassemblies, and equipment layouts using SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Design machined and fabricated components, including shafts, bearings, housings, drive components, mounting plates, structural weldments, and sheet metal parts.
• Apply appropriate materials, manufacturing methods, GD&T principles, machining practices, and assembly considerations to produce safe, practical, and manufacturable designs.
• Develop and maintain Bills of Material (BOMs) and engineering documentation within an ERP system while supporting engineering changes and product revisions.
• Partner with manufacturing and assembly teams to resolve fabrication, machining, assembly, and equipment-testing issues.
• Collaborate across Sales, Purchasing, Production, Field Service, and other functions to support customer requirements, project schedules, equipment upgrades, and on-time delivery.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 3-4+ years of mechanical design and/or application engineering experience.
• Hands‑on proficiency with SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Experience designing machined and fabricated components for automated machinery, production equipment, or similar mechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems and sensors commonly incorporated into automated machinery.
• Understanding of product handling, machining capabilities, manufacturing methods, and assembly principles.
• Experience producing detailed mechanical drawings and supporting Bills of Material (BOMs).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, along with experience working in an ERP environment.

Nice‑to‑Have Qualifications

• Mechanical design experience with packaging machinery or automated packaging equipment.
• Experience specifically with labeling equipment.
• Experience with SyteLine ERP.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience supporting equipment upgrades, rebuilds, or aftermarket engineering projects.

Why Join Our Client

Our client designs and manufactures automated equipment used in demanding production environments. This position provides the opportunity to work across the complete mechanical design process while collaborating directly with manufacturing and other technical teams.

The environment offers exposure to:

• Custom automated machinery design
• SolidWorks and AutoCAD engineering
• Packaging and product‑handling applications
• Machined, fabricated, and sheet metal component design
• Manufacturing and assembly support
• Equipment upgrades and rebuilds
• Cross‑functional engineering and customer‑facing projects
• Continued technical and career development

Benefits may include:

• Medical and dental coverage
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement savings plan with company match
• Professional and career development opportunities

Location: Raleigh, NC

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Compensation: $100,000-$125,000

Travel: Up to 20%

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the following:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (\"we,\" \"our,\" or \"Vaco by Highspring\") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.