Mechanical Designer | Project Specialist

Column Technical Services; Blue Island (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Column Technical Services is seeking a Mechanical Designer | Project Specialist to support custom pump systems, rotating equipment, and industrial projects in Blue Island, IL. This role blends mechanical design, project coordination, production support, and problem-solving.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, Sales, and Production teams to drive quality, safety, and operational excellence on fast-paced manufacturing projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, mechanical, or industrial environments.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with pumps, rotating equipment, and related systems.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, drawings, and specifications.
• Experience creating or editing technical drawings with SolidWorks, CAD, or similar tools.
• Proven ability to coordinate complex work orders and manage project priorities.

Responsibilities

• Support custom pump systems, rotating equipment, and industrial projects from concept through completion.
• Coordinate projects with Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, Sales, and Production teams.
• Assist with production scheduling and shop-floor coordination to maintain workflow.
• Identify bottlenecks, troubleshoot issues, and implement practical solutions.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Reading blueprints

Project coordination

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Technical school training preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD software

Job description

Column Technical Services is seeking a Mechanical Designer | Project Specialist to support custom pump systems, rotating equipment, and industrial manufacturing projects in Blue Island, IL. This role offers a unique blend of mechanical design, project coordination, production support, and technical problem-solving. If you have experience with SolidWorks, industrial equipment, project execution, and enjoy working closely with engineering and shop-floor teams, we'd love to speak with you about this exciting opportunity.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting custom pump systems, rotating equipment, repair projects, and industrial production activities, ensuring projects move efficiently from initial release through final completion. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, Sales, and Production teams while helping drive quality, safety, and operational excellence.

We are looking for a highly organized professional who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, can manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and enjoys solving technical and production-related challenges, Hands-on experience within an industrial, manufacturing, fabrication, pump, or engineered-equipment environment is valued more heavily than formal engineering credentials.

Required QualificationsCandidates Must Possess

• 5+ years of experience within a manufacturing, mechanical, or industrial environment with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and a working understanding of pumps, seals, rotating equipment, and related industrial systems.
• Advanced ability to read, interpret, and work from blueprints, engineering drawings, technical specifications, and related documentation.
• Experience creating, modifying, redlining, or updating technical drawings using SolidWorks, CAD, or similar design software.
• Proven experience coordinating complex work orders, managing project priorities, supporting production schedules, and driving projects from release through completion.
• Ability to identify workflow bottlenecks, troubleshoot production or mechanical issues, and implement practical solutions.
• Experience collaborating with engineering, operations, purchasing, sales, and production teams while effectively influencing outcomes without direct supervisory authority.
• Comfortable working both in an office setting and on the production floor, including project staging, inspections, troubleshooting, and production support activities.
• Strong communication, organizational, documentation, and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing operations, shop workflows, job scheduling, and production processes.

Preferred Qualifications

Strong preference will be given to candidates with:

• Direct experience supporting pump repair operations, engineered pump systems, seals, or rotating equipment.
• Experience with reverse engineering and converting field or shop findings into revised drawings and technical documentation.
• Familiarity with machining, fabrication, assembly, and industrial repair environments.
• Experience using NetSuite or a comparable ERP platform.
• Demonstrated involvement in quality initiatives, safety programs, continuous improvement efforts, and organized shop-floor practices.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business or a related discipline preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
• Technical school training or relevant mechanical and industrial education preferred.
• A specific engineering degree is not required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is not required.