Mechanical Machine Designer

Gilder Search Group; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking an experienced Mechanical Machine Designer to own custom industrial equipment projects from concept through manufacturing release, assembly, and test. You will lead the mechanical engineering lifecycle, translating customer specs into robust systems, balancing design with fabrication needs on the shop floor.

You will work closely with fabrication technicians, resolve build challenges, implement revisions, and verify performance against requirements, while

Qualifications

• 5+ years designing industrial machinery or automated capital equipment.
• Proficient in 2D drafting and 3D CAD software.
• Strong understanding of drafting standards and GD&T.
• Experience organizing large assemblies with hundreds of parts.
• Hands-on shop floor experience with inspection and prototyping.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design of custom industrial equipment and assemblies.
• Produce BOMs, drawings, material specs, and assembly instructions.
• Determine tolerance stack-ups and structural requirements.
• Collaborate with machinists and technicians to iterate designs and support testing.
• Communicate with customers to clarify specs and milestones.

Skills

Industrial design

Shop-floor troubleshooting

Project ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Tools

2D drafting software

3D CAD

Job description

Company Summary

We are a premier, established manufacturer of automated production systems and custom capital equipment. Operating out of an advanced manufacturing facility just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we engineer turnkey industrial machinery for global brands across multiple heavy commercial sectors. Our facility houses complete manufacturing capabilities under one roof, integrating design engineering directly with precision machining, fabrication, and final assembly. We pride ourselves on a stable, highly collaborative engineering culture where designers work hand-in-hand with the production floor to bring complex concepts to life.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Machine Designer to take full operational ownership of custom industrial equipment projects from initial concept through manufacturing release, assembly, and final testing. In this role, you will lead the mechanical engineering lifecycle, translating complex customer specifications into robust physical systems. You will divide your time between the design environment and the production floor, collaborating directly with fabrication technicians to troubleshoot prototype equipment, implement engineering revisions, and validate final performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design of custom industrial equipment, developing comprehensive layouts, sub-assemblies, and production-ready manufacturing packages.
• Generate highly accurate bills of material (BOMs), detailed component drawings, material specifications, and assembly instructions for the production team.
• Determine critical mechanical tolerance stack-ups, component fits, and structural requirements to ensure reliable operation under heavy industrial conditions.
• Work hands‑on alongside machinists, welders, and assembly technicians to resolve physical build challenges, iterate on prototype designs, and support final testing.
• Communicate directly with customers to clarify technical specifications, review design milestones, and ensure project deadlines are met.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of dedicated experience designing industrial machinery or automated capital equipment, with a proven history of managing full systems rather than isolated components.
• Strong command of standard industrial 2D drafting software alongside modern 3D solid modeling tools.
• Deep understanding of core mechanical drafting principles, drawing standards, and practical geometric relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, track, and structure complex product assemblies containing hundreds of custom and commercial components.
• Hands‑on mechanical aptitude with the ability to move fluidly between the office and the shop floor, use basic hand tools during troubleshooting, and physically evaluate equipment builds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor's Degree, technical certificate, or equivalent practical field experience in Mechanical Engineering Technology or a related discipline.
• Baseline exposure to or understanding of industrial electrical panels, automated machinery control systems, or fluid power.
• Practical understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles.

Compensation

• Target annual salary range of $110,000 to $140,000

Location

• Full-time, fully on-site role at our manufacturing facility near Philadelphia, PA