Senior Automation Project Engineer – SolidWorks & Machine Conception

Impact Recruitment Ltd; Brown Deer (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Impact Recruitment Ltd seeks a Senior Automation Project Engineer specializing in SolidWorks and machine conception. This 100% onsite role is in Brown Deer, WI, offering up to $120,000 base with a premium benefits package.

Requires 3+ years in custom automation and a BSME or equivalent experience, with US work authorization within 45 minutes of Brown Deer. The successful candidate will lead front-to-back machine design, supervise a team, and collaborate with clients to deliver high‑speed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or 5+ years of custom machine design.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for complex mechanisms and large assemblies.
• Hands-on hydraulics and pneumatics; welding (GMAW, GTAW, Laser) knowledge.
• Ability to manage budgets, schedule releases, and lead small technical teams.
• Residing within a 45-minute drive of Brown Deer, WI area.

Responsibilities

• Lead Ground-Up Machine Conception: direct mechanical design integrity, engineering strategy, and profitability for complex projects.
• Translate Client Specifications: work with Project Managers to convert requirements into automation solutions.
• Supervise Design Workflows: break down initiatives into milestones and supervise detailers and external resources.
• Architect Fluid Power Systems: specify hydraulic and pneumatic systems for each build.
• Mitigate Design Risk: perform early risk assessments to address safety hazards and accessibility.
• Client & Shop Floor Alignment: communicate with global clients and keep builds on schedule and budget.

Skills

SolidWorks

Mechanical design

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Project leadership

Ground-up design

Education

BSME or 5+ yrs experience

Tools

GMAW

GTAW

Laser welding

Multi-axis assembly

Job description

Job Order ID: 4728

Employment Type: Permanent

Salary: $90000/Yr

Web Publication Date: 8/5/2026 12:00:00 AM

Job Location: Brown Deer, WI 53209

Job Function: 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

If you are an inventive engineer who thrives on "blank page" design and wants to escape the monotony of minor product updates, repetitive part modifications, or corporate bureaucracy, this senior-track seat offers true creative autonomy. 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.

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