Principal Mechanical Engineer

Sterling St James LLC; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

Sterling St James LLC in the Brown Deer/Northern Milwaukee area seeks a Lead Machine Design Engineer to own the design of high-speed automated machinery in a 100% onsite setting. You will drive mechanical design integrity, coordinate with PMs, and ensure safety and international standards across global clients.

Requirements include a BS Mechanical Engineering (or 5–10 years of direct experience), expert SolidWorks skills for large assemblies, and strong experience with robotic cells, hydraulics,

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of verifiable, ground-up custom equipment design experience in heavy machinery or high-speed automation.
• BSME or equivalent degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• SolidWorks Power User with experience modeling large assemblies and producing production drawings.
• Strong understanding of weldments, material selection, and tight machining tolerances.
• Experience leading projects, maintaining schedules, managing costs, and aligning technical teams.
• Residence within a commuting distance of Brown Deer / Northern Milwaukee County, WI.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design integrity and engineering accuracy for high-speed automated machinery and robotic work cells.
• Collaborate with Project Managers and cross-functional teams during quoting to brainstorm cost-effective, high-performance solutions.
• Break down complex design scopes into milestones and coordinate with internal detailers/designers and external fabrication partners.
• Integrate fluid power and drive systems, selecting hydraulics and pneumatics for servo-driven mechanisms.
• Conduct early design reviews to eliminate safety hazards before shop release.
• Serve as technical contact for global clients, ensuring cycle times, guard layouts, and safety specs meet international standards.
• Manage release schedules, track BOMs, and resolve assembly floor issues in real time.

Skills

Robotic integration

High-speed automation

Pneumatics & hydraulics

Education

BSME or mechanical engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Lead Machine Design Engineer (Brown Deer / Northern Milwaukee Area)

Up to $120,000 Base Salary • Brown Deer, WI Area • 100% Onsite • Full Benefits

• EXPERIENCE: 5–10 years of direct experience in heavy, custom machine design-build environments (automation, custom machinery, or high-speed assembly)
• SOFTWARE: Advanced, expert-level fluency in SolidWorks for complex mechanical machine design and large assembly management
• TECHNICAL FOCUS: Deep competency in robotic cell integration, high-speed pick-and-place, precision power transmission, pneumatics, and hydraulics
• FACILITY: Elite, high-growth global OEM with an integrated engineering bay and assembly floor under one roof
• REQUIREMENTS: US Citizen or Green Card holder residing within a dependable daily driving radius of Brown Deer / Northern Milwaukee County, WI

If you are a veteran machine designer or BSME looking to escape rigid corporate silos, repetitive product tweaks, or being a nameless cog in a large engineering department, this direct-hire seat provides an exceptional career home. The employer is a high-growth, international OEM manufacturer designing ground-up, complex custom automation and robotic cells for global market leaders across North America and Europe. As one of five Lead Engineers, you will play a central technical role in driving the company’s international expansion.

Operating in a 100% SolidWorks environment, you will enjoy the unique privilege of watching your custom creations manufactured, wired, and assembled right on-site. Because the build floor is under the same roof as your design bay, you get an immediate feedback loop with machinists, builders, and controls engineers. Every build is unique, offering high autonomy, continuous technical challenge, and a clear path toward senior engineering leadership.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Lead the mechanical design integrity and engineering accuracy for high-speed, multi-axis automated machinery and robotic work cells.
• Develop concepts and collaborate during quoting with Project Managers and cross-functional teams to brainstorm cost-effective, high-performance solutions.
• Break down complex design scopes into manageable milestones, guiding internal detailers/designers and coordinating with external fabrication partners.
• Integrate fluid power and drive systems, applying advanced principles to select and implement hydraulics, pneumatics, and servo-driven mechanics.
• Conduct rigorous early-stage design reviews to eliminate safety hazards (pinch points, interlocking guard needs, ergonomic access) prior to shop release.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for global clients, ensuring final machine cycle times, guard layouts, and safety specs meet international standards.
• Manage strict engineering release schedules, track complete Bills of Materials (BOMs), and resolve assembly floor issues in real time.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or 5–10 years of verifiable, ground-up custom equipment design experience (heavy machinery or high-speed automation preferred over consumer products).
• SolidWorks Power User capability, with current daily experience modeling large assemblies, managing configurations, and drafting production-ready drawings.
• Strong practical manufacturing acuity, including a deep understanding of structural weldments (GMAW/GTAW), material selection, and precision machining tolerances.
• Demonstrated project leadership habits, with a proven track record of maintaining project schedules, controlling costs, and keeping technical teams aligned.
• Solid, progressive employment history displaying multi-year tenure and dedication to past employers.
• Proximity to the facility, residing within a dependable daily commuting distance of the Greater Brown Deer / Northern Milwaukee County area.