Mechanical Engineer

Vaco by Highspring; Huntington (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco in Huntington, IN seeks a Mechanical Engineer to own mechanical design from concept through manufacturing for custom automated machinery and material handling systems. This role emphasizes hands‑on CAD, detailed drawings, BOMs, and cross‑functional collaboration to deliver robust solutions across the product lifecycle.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in full‑lifecycle machine design, strong AutoCAD 2D skills, and experience in an engineered‑to‑order environment, with a bachelor’s degree in

Qualifications

• 3+ years of Mechanical Engineering experience involving full‑lifecycle custom equipment or machine design.
• Experience designing equipment within automation, machinery manufacturing, material handling, or similar engineered‑to‑order environment.
• Hands‑on proficiency with AutoCAD 2D.
• Experience developing detailed mechanical drawings suitable for fabrication and manufacturing.
• Understanding of mechanical component selection, tolerances, materials, assemblies, and manufacturing considerations.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical design and assembly issues and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Experience collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, assembly, project, and customer‑facing teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and detail custom automated machinery and conveyor systems, incorporating standard and custom components to meet project requirements, scope, and schedules.
• Own mechanical designs from concept through manufacturing, assembly, testing, and implementation, providing technical support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop machine and mechanism concepts by evaluating functional requirements, loads, speeds, component selection, structural framework, mounting requirements, and system integration.
• Create detailed 2D production and fabrication drawings, including materials, finishes, tolerances, welding requirements, and other manufacturing specifications.
• Collaborate with customers and internal engineering teams to mechanically integrate new systems with existing or new equipment.
• Lead and participate in design reviews, troubleshoot mechanical issues, and implement design changes or improvements when required.
• Develop bills of material and support ERP/BOM activities, including component specifications, quantities, raw materials, and logical subassembly structures.

Skills

Mechanical design

Automation equipment

AutoCAD 2D

Fabrication drawings

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD 2D

Autodesk Inventor

SyteLine ERP

Job description

Travel: Approximately 2-4 times per year

Our client is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join its engineering team in Huntington, Indiana. This position will own mechanical design activities from initial concept through manufacturing, assembly, testing, and final implementation for custom automated machinery and material handling systems.

The Mechanical Engineer will develop both standard and custom solutions, create detailed production drawings, and collaborate closely with project management, controls engineering, manufacturing, assembly, service, and other technical teams. This role is ideal for an engineer with hands‑on custom machine design experience who enjoys solving complex mechanical challenges and seeing designs through the full product lifecycle.

Core Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and detail custom automated machinery and conveyor systems, incorporating standard and custom components to meet project requirements, scope, and schedules.
• Own mechanical designs from concept through manufacturing, assembly, testing, and implementation, providing technical support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop machine and mechanism concepts by evaluating functional requirements, loads, speeds, component selection, structural framework, mounting requirements, and system integration.
• Create detailed 2D production and fabrication drawings, including materials, finishes, tolerances, welding requirements, and other manufacturing specifications.
• Collaborate with customers and internal engineering teams to mechanically integrate new systems with existing or new equipment.
• Lead and participate in design reviews, troubleshoot mechanical issues, and implement design changes or improvements when required.
• Develop bills of material and support ERP/BOM activities, including component specifications, quantities, raw materials, and logical subassembly structures.

Must-Have Qualifications:

• 3+ years of Mechanical Engineering experience involving full‑lifecycle custom equipment or machine design.
• Experience designing equipment within an automation, machinery manufacturing, material handling, or similar engineered‑to‑order environment.
• Hands‑on proficiency with AutoCAD 2D.
• Experience developing detailed mechanical drawings suitable for fabrication and manufacturing.
• Understanding of mechanical component selection, tolerances, materials, assemblies, and manufacturing considerations.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical design and assembly issues and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Experience collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, assembly, project, and customer‑facing teams.

Nice‑to‑Have Qualifications:

• Experience with 3D CAD and Autodesk Inventor.
• ERP experience, particularly SyteLine.
• Experience designing automated packaging machinery, conveyor systems, or material handling equipment.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related mechanical engineering discipline.
• Experience developing Bills of Material (BOMs) and supporting engineered‑to‑order manufacturing.
• Exposure to R&D, new product development, or custom machine development.

Why Join Our Client

Our client develops highly customized engineered equipment for customers across multiple industries. Mechanical Engineers have the opportunity to work on projects from initial concept through production rather than focusing on only one stage of the engineering process.

The environment offers exposure to:

• Custom machine and equipment design
• Automation and material handling systems
• Full-lifecycle engineering projects
• Cross‑functional collaboration with controls, manufacturing, assembly, service, and project teams
• Customer‑specific engineering challenges
• New product development and R&D
• Complex mechanical problem‑solving

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Title: Mechanical Engineer

Location: Huntington, IN

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Compensation: $85,000-$95,000

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] .

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

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

• 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).