Mechanical Engineer – Heavy Equipment

Qualdoc; Chesterfield Court House (VA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Qualdoc is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, improve, and support heavy equipment for railroad emergency response, lifting, and field operations. This hands-on role covers the full lifecycle, from concept through testing and field deployment, with primary work in Chesterfield, VA and occasional travel.

The candidate will use SolidWorks, CAD modeling, FEA, and engineering calculations to ensure manufacturability, reliability, safety, and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software.
• Experience with FEA and engineering calculations.
• Understanding of mechanical design, manufacturing, and documentation.
• Ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to travel ~10% for inspections and field activities.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) certification.
• CSWA or CSWP SolidWorks certification.
• Experience designing heavy equipment, cranes, or industrial machinery.
• Experience with hydraulic and electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical designs for new heavy equipment and crane systems.
• Modify and improve existing equipment to expand capabilities.
• Reverse engineer components and create updated solutions.
• Use SolidWorks, CAD modeling, FEA, and prototyping for design validation.
• Evaluate designs for manufacturability, reliability, safety, and cost.
• Maintain engineering documentation and BOMs.
• Lead projects from concept through production and lifecycle support.
• Support inspections, testing, and field deployment.
• Assist with quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Skills

SolidWorks

FEA

Engineering calculations

Mechanical design

CAD modeling

Documentation

Safety standards

Team collaboration

10% travel

Driver's license

EIT/PE

CSWA/CSWP

Heavy equipment experience

Hydraulic & electrical systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Mechanical Engineer – Heavy Equipment

Location:Richmond, VA
Job Type:Direct Hire
Starting Salary:$95,000/year; higher based on experience
Schedule:9/80 schedule with every other Friday off

Position Overview

We are hiring aMechanical Engineerto design, improve, and support specialized heavy equipment used for railroad emergency response, lifting, maintenance, and field operations.

This is a hands‑on engineering position covering the full equipment lifecycle, including concept development, CAD design, engineering analysis, manufacturing support, testing, field implementation, and product improvement. The role is well suited for an engineer who enjoys practical problem‑solving and working with manufacturing, operations, suppliers, and customers.

The primary work location is in Chesterfield, VA, with occasional work at a Richmond facility, vendor locations, customer sites, and field operations.

Engineers may also participate in emergency response activities outside normal business hours as part of a first‑response organization.

Mechanical Design & Engineering

• Develop mechanical designs for new heavy equipment and crane systems.
• Modify and improve existing equipment to expand capabilities and improve performance.
• Reverse engineer components and develop updated mechanical solutions.
• Create and evaluate designs usingSolidWorks, CAD modeling, FEA, engineering calculations, prototyping, and field testing.
• Evaluate equipment designs for manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, safety, performance, and cost.
• Maintain and update standard equipment designs and associated engineering documentation.
• Apply applicable engineering standards, customer requirements, and safety regulations to equipment designs.

Project & Manufacturing Support

• Manage engineering projects from initial concept through manufacturing, testing, implementation, and lifecycle support.
• Lead crane rebuild and refurbishment projects, including inspections, repair planning, upgrades, testing, and final delivery.
• Work with manufacturing, operations, leadership, vendors, and suppliers to keep projects moving and support production requirements.
• Provide technical assistance for equipment troubleshooting, inspections, testing, field work, and emergency response.
• Support successful product releases and verify equipment meets applicable specifications and requirements.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Prepare and maintain engineering drawings, calculations, bills of materials, design records, and other technical documentation.
• Use engineering judgment and creative problem‑solving to address complex mechanical issues.
• Communicate technical information clearly with customers, vendors, manufacturing teams, and other departments.
• Assist with quality assurance, equipment standardization, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Manage multiple engineering projects and adjust priorities as project and operational needs change.
• Maintain current knowledge of company equipment, industry practices, and applicable engineering standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree inMechanical Engineeringor a related discipline.
• Proficiency withSolidWorks or equivalent parametric CAD software.
• Working knowledge ofFinite Element Analysis (FEA)and the ability to validate results using engineering calculations.
• Understanding of mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and engineering documentation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.
• Strong time management skills and ability to manage multiple projects.
• Commitment to safety and engineering quality.
• Valid driver's license.
• Willingness to travel approximately10%for inspections, field activities, and customer support.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT)orProfessional Engineer (PE)certification.
• CSWA or CSWP SolidWorks certification.
• Experience designingheavy equipment, cranes, mobile equipment, or industrial machinery.
• Experience working withhydraulic and electrical systems.
• Experience supporting equipment from design through manufacturing and field deployment.
• Familiarity withOSHA, ASME, AWS, AAR, or other applicable engineering standards.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and communicate throughout the workday.
• Ability to climb onto equipment during inspections, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to occasionally lift tools, components, and equipment weighing up to50 lbs.
• Ability to work extended hours and respond to emergency situations when required.
• Ability to work safely in both office and industrial environments.