Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Custom Robotic Cells & Machine Architec

MDS Staffing; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

MDS Staffing is assisting a leading global OEM in Brown Deer, WI to fill a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer role focused on ground-up machine architecture and custom robotic cells. 100K–120K salary, 1st shift, 100% onsite, direct-hire.

Ideal candidates have a BSME or 5–10 years of hands-on design experience, expert SolidWorks for large assemblies, and a track record leading projects with fabrication partners in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) required or 5–10 years of verifiable ground-up custom equipment design experience in heavy machinery or high-speed automation.
• Expert fluency in SolidWorks for large assemblies and producing production-ready drawings.
• Strong understanding of weldments, materials, machining tolerances, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven history of maintaining project schedules and budgets, with a solid employment history showing tenure.
• US work authorization and local residency within a daily driving radius of Brown Deer, WI.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design integrity for high-speed, multi-axis automated machinery and robotic work cells.
• Develop concepts and collaborate with Project Managers to brainstorm cost-effective automated solutions.
• Break down design scopes into milestones, guiding detailers/designers and coordinating with external fabrication partners.
• Integrate fluid power and drive systems, selecting hydraulics, pneumatics, and servo systems.
• Conduct early design reviews to eliminate safety hazards, pinch points, and ergonomic issues.
• Serve as technical contact for global clients while managing BOM releases and resolving assembly floor issues.

Skills

SolidWorks fluency

Mechanical design

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Custom Robotic Cells & Machine Architecture

$100,000 – $120,000/yr Brown Deer, WI Area (Northern Milwaukee County) 1st Shift (Mon–Fri) Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Base salary up to $120,000/yr based on custom machine design depth, backed by a comprehensive corporate health and retirement benefits package.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Predictable 1st shift schedule (Monday – Friday), 100% onsite in a high-growth, modern manufacturing and engineering environment.
• Environment & Company Profile: Elite global OEM designing ground-up, complex custom automation and robotic cells; small, agile team of five Lead Engineers with design bays and assembly floor under one roof.
• Core Functional Scope: Ground-up machine architecture, SolidWorks large assemblies, custom robotic cell integration, high-speed pick-and-place, precision power transmission, pneumatics/hydraulics, and project leadership.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires BSME or 5–10 years of ground-up custom equipment design depth, expert SolidWorks fluency, US work authorization, and a local commute to Brown Deer, WI.

If you are a veteran machine designer or BSME looking to escape rigid corporate silos and repetitive product tweaks, this direct-hire role provides an exceptional technical home. Our client is a high-growth, international OEM designing ground-up, complex custom automation and robotic cells for global market leaders across North America and Europe.

Operating in a 100% SolidWorks environment as one of five Lead Engineers, you will enjoy the unique privilege of watching your custom mechanical creations manufactured, wired, and assembled right on-site with an immediate feedback loop from machinists, builders, and controls engineers. Offering high technical autonomy, zero micromanagement, and a clear path toward senior leadership, this position is built for an inventive engineer who thrives on solving complex industrial puzzles.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Ground-Up Machine Architecture: Lead mechanical design integrity and engineering accuracy for high-speed, multi-axis automated machinery and robotic work cells.
• Conceptual Design & Quoting: Develop concepts and collaborate with Project Managers to brainstorm cost-effective, high-performance automated solutions.
• Project & Team Leadership: Break down complex design scopes into milestones, guiding internal detailers/designers and coordinating with external fabrication partners.
• Fluid Power & Drive Systems: Integrate fluid power and drive mechanics, applying advanced engineering principles to select hydraulics, pneumatics, and servo systems.
• Design Reviews & Safety Verification: Conduct early-stage design reviews to eliminate safety hazards, pinch points, and ergonomic issues prior to shop release.
• Client & Assembly Floor Collaboration: Serve as technical contact for global clients while managing strict BOM engineering releases and resolving assembly floor issues in real time.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or 5–10 years of verifiable, ground-up custom equipment design experience in heavy machinery or high-speed automation.
• SolidWorks Expertise: Expert fluency modeling large assemblies, managing configurations, and drafting production-ready drawings in SolidWorks.
• Manufacturing Acuity: Practical understanding of structural weldments (GMAW/GTAW), material selection, machine shop processes, and precision machining tolerances.
• Project Management & Career Stability: Proven history of maintaining project schedules and budgets, paired with a solid employment history showing strong tenure.
• Local Residency: US Citizen or Green Card holder residing within a dependable daily driving radius of Brown Deer / Northern Milwaukee County, WI.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Robotic Cell Integration: Hands-on experience designing end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) and integrating Fanuc or ABB robotic arms into automated lines.
• International Standards: Familiarity with European machinery safety standards (CE marking, ISO/ISO 13849 safety integration).
• Cross-Functional Design: Background working directly alongside controls engineers to co-design servo-driven motion profiles and sensor placement.