Mechanical Engineer

Medela; McHenry (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) with company match

Money Purchase Pension Plan

Paid parental leave (16 weeks)

Job summary

Medela LLC in McHenry, IL is seeking a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to turn ideas into medical devices, from concept through prototyping and production. You’ll design, build and test components, collaborating with cross-functional teams across quality, regulatory, and operations.

The role emphasizes strong CAD skills, GD&T and rapid iteration, with a hybrid schedule (3 days on-site, 2 remote) and starting salary of $100,000+ plus bonus potential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of professional engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical design, materials, analysis and manufacturing.
• At least 2 years of CAD experience using Creo, SolidWorks, Siemens NX.
• Working knowledge of GD&T.
• Experience translating designs into manufacturable products.
• Strong problem-solving and multi-project collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and improve mechanical components and assemblies for medical devices.
• Generate new design concepts through research and analysis.
• Develop prototypes and evaluate design alternatives.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and drawings.
• Apply GD&T to support manufacturable designs.
• Support prototype testing and design verification.
• Prepare engineering documentation per quality and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Quality, Regulatory and Operations teams.
• Help transition designs into manufacturing and commercialization.

Skills

Mechanical design

Materials analysis

Manufacturing knowledge

GD&T

Prototyping

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

Job description

Medical Device | Product Development & Innovation

Medela LLC | McHenry, IL

Hybrid: 3 days on-site / 2 days remote

Starting salary: $100,000+ plus bonus potential

Build What's Next In Medical Device Innovation

Are you a Mechanical Engineer who enjoys turning ideas into real products?

At Medela LLC, you’ll have the opportunity to play a hands‑on role in developing and improving medical devices that make a difference for patients and healthcare professionals. From the first design concept through prototyping, testing, refinement and commercialization, you’ll help bring innovative ideas to life. This is a great opportunity for an engineer who enjoys creative problem‑solving, hands‑on product development and seeing their designs move from the drawing board into production. While medical device experience is a plus, we also welcome engineers with strong mechanical design and product development experience in other regulated or technically complex industries, including automotive and aerospace.

What You’ll Do

Design & Product Development

• Design, develop and improve mechanical components and assemblies for medical devices, with a focus on product enhancements and innovation.
• Generate new design concepts through brainstorming, technical research and competitive product analysis.
• Develop prototypes and working models, evaluate design alternatives and refine concepts through multiple iterations.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Apply GD&T to support accurate, manufacturable designs.
• Evaluate materials, manufacturing processes and design alternatives while balancing performance, quality, cost and development timelines.
• Design and support plastic components and work with manufacturing teams and suppliers to develop effective solutions.

From Prototype to Production

• Support prototype testing and design verification and validation activities.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation in accordance with quality and regulatory requirements.
• Work within a structured Stage-Gate product development process, participating in design reviews and project approvals.
• Collaborate with Quality, Regulatory and Operations teams on requirements including sterilization and biocompatibility.
• Help transition successful designs into manufacturing and commercialization.

Collaborate & Solve

You’ll work alongside a diverse group of engineering and business professionals, including:

• Mechanical, electrical, hardware and software engineers
• Product Development
• Quality and Regulatory
• Operations and Supply Chain
• Manufacturing partners and external suppliers

You’ll manage engineering responsibilities across multiple projects, identify and resolve technical challenges, and provide engineering input on design changes, supplier decisions, manufacturing processes and product costs.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 4+ years of professional engineering experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience with mechanical design, materials, analysis and manufacturing.
• At least 2 years of professional CAD experience using Creo, SolidWorks, Siemens NX or a comparable platform.
• Working knowledge of GD&T.
• Experience developing mechanical design concepts, building and refining prototypes, and translating designs into manufacturable products.
• Strong creative problem‑solving skills and the ability to evaluate multiple technical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate effectively across engineering and business functions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing plastic components and working with plastic materials and manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with injection molding and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Product development experience in medical devices, automotive, aerospace or another regulated industry.
• Familiarity with FDA and ISO requirements, design controls and engineering documentation.
• Basic understanding of electromechanical systems and the ability to collaborate with electrical, hardware and software engineers.
• Knowledge of medical device sterilization and biocompatibility requirements.
• Experience working in a global product development environment.

Why Join Medela?

At Medela, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to products that support patients, families and healthcare professionals while working with a collaborative team focused on innovation and continuous improvement.

We Offer

• $100,000+ starting salary plus bonus potential
• Hybrid work schedule: 3 days on-site / 2 days remote
• Comprehensive benefits package
• 401(k) with company match
• Money Purchase Pension Plan
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave
• Generous PTO and 14 paid holidays
• An opportunity to work on innovative medical device products from concept through commercialization

Ready to Turn Your Ideas Into Products?

If you’re a hands‑on Mechanical Engineer who enjoys designing, building, solving problems and seeing your work become a real product, we’d love to hear from you.

This is not a job description. More details will be provided regarding the functions of this position.

At Medela, you will be joining a global community of colleagues, united by the purpose that drives our business: helping people. Medela exists to advance human health and well‑being through knowledge-based and innovative human milk and medical vacuum solutions. Our employees are empowered to serve this purpose in a family-owned company that is growing rapidly around the world. We value intensive exchanges, diverse perspectives, and unbureaucratic decisions. You will have the opportunity to develop at an international level, and witness the direct impact your work has on our company’s success.

As an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, protected veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDs status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity (transgender status), weight, height or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.