Senior Automation Project Engineer – SolidWorks & Machine Conception

Impact Solutions; Brown Deer (WI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Impact Solutions seeks a Senior Automation Project Engineer to lead custom automation projects, leveraging SolidWorks for large assemblies and specifying hydraulic and pneumatic systems. This 100% onsite role is based near Brown Deer, WI, offering up to $120,000 base salary plus premium benefits.

You will guide ground-up machine conception from concept to fabrication, collaborating with PMs and managing detailers and external resources to ensure on-budget, on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or 5+ years of direct custom machine design-build experience.
• SolidWorks proficiency for complex mechanism layouts and large assemblies.
• Hands-on experience specifying hydraulics/pneumatics and welding (GMAW, GTAW, Laser).
• 3+ years of proven success in custom automated machinery design (not consumer products).

Responsibilities

• Lead Ground-Up Machine Conception: direct the mechanical design integrity, engineering strategy, and profitability for custom, complex machine design-build projects.
• Translate Client Specifications: partner with Project Managers during concept reviews to translate requirements into robust automation solutions.
• Supervise Design Workflows: break down complex design initiatives into milestones, supervise detailers and external resources.
• Architect Fluid Power Systems: specify hydraulic and pneumatic power transmission systems for each build.
• Mitigate Design Risk: conduct early risk assessments to engineer out safety hazards and accessibility issues.
• Client & Shop Floor Alignment: manage high-level technical communications with global clients and shop-floor actions to stay on schedule.

Skills

SolidWorks

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Machine design

Project leadership

Welding knowledge

Education

BSME or equivalent experience

5+ years custom machine design-build experience

Job description

Senior Automation Project Engineer - SolidWorks & Machine Conception

Up to $120,000 Base Salary

• Greater Milwaukee Area (Brown Deer Vicinity)
• 100% Onsite
• COMPENSATION: Up to $120,000 Baseline Starting Salary (commensurate with custom machine design depth) + Premium Corporate Benefits Package + Clear Leadership Advancement Track
• WORK STRUCTURE: Full-Time, Permanent W-2 Leadership Role | 100% Onsite in a modern engineering suite and production facility
• EXPERIENCE: Minimum 3+ years of dedicated, hands-on success in custom automated equipment engineering (ground-up machinery design-build experience required)
• EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) OR 5+ years of direct custom industrial machine design-build experience
• CAD & FLUID POWER: Advanced SolidWorks proficiency (large assemblies, mechanism design) and practical expertise specifying hydraulic & pneumatic systems for heavy automation
• REQUIREMENTS: US Citizen or Green Card holder residing within a 45-minute daily commuting radius of the Brown Deer / Greater Milwaukee, WI area

The employer is a highly agile, employee-oriented custom machinery builder scaling rapidly into a premier original equipment manufacturer (OEM). They design and build ground-up, multi-million dollar automated systems for global manufacturing leaders across North America and Europe.

As one of just five lead engineers on an elite innovation team, you will direct custom, high-speed robotic work cell builds from concept to reality. Located steps from the shop floor, you will enjoy the unique satisfaction of collaborating directly with assembly leads and watching your complex designs physically fabricated, wired, and debugged right before your eyes.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Lead Ground-Up Machine Conception: Direct the mechanical design integrity, engineering strategy, and profitability for custom, complex machine design-build projects.
• Translate Client Specifications: Partner closely with Project Managers during initial concept reviews to translate customer requirements into innovative, high-margin, and robust automation solutions.
• Supervise Design Workflows: Break down complex mechanical design initiatives into structured milestones, supervising in-house detailers and external engineering resources.
• Architect Fluid Power Systems: Specify advanced hydraulic and pneumatic power transmission systems tailored to the structural and speed demands of each custom build.
• Mitigate Design Risk: Conduct early-stage risk assessments to proactively engineer out safety hazards, mechanical pinch points, or component accessibility roadblocks.
• Client & Shop Floor Alignment: Manage high-level technical communications with global clients while facilitating real-time corrective actions on the shop floor to keep builds on schedule and on budget.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• 3+ years of proven success in custom automated machinery design (must be custom industrial equipment—not consumer products, small electronics, or medical devices).
• Education & CAD Mastery: BSME degree or 5+ years of custom machine design-build experience; direct proficiency in SolidWorks for complex mechanism layouts and large assemblies.
• Fluid Power & Manufacturing Literacy: Hands-on experience specifying hydraulics/pneumatics and a strong understanding of industrial welding (GMAW, GTAW, Laser) and multi-axis assembly.
• Project Leadership: Capability to manage strict design budgets, direct small technical teams, and maintain project release timelines.
• Employment Stability: A solid work history demonstrating multi-year tenure and career dedication with prior employers.
• Local Proximity: Residing within a comfortable 45-minute daily drive of the Brown Deer / Greater Milwaukee area.