Senior Mechanical Design Engineer: Lead Pharma Equipment

Rheo Engineering; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) match

PTO

Job summary

Rheo Engineering is seeking a Senior Design Engineer to own the technical quality of custom powder handling equipment for pharma projects. You will lead CAD modeling in Autodesk Inventor, run engineering calculations and FE analyses, and drive design reviews with cross-functional teams on tight deadlines.

You’ll mentor junior engineers, coordinate with fabrication, controls and purchasing, and serve as the main technical interface for customers and vendors.

Qualifications

• Significant professional experience in mechanical design engineering with ownership of complex assembly design from concept through release.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent 3D CAD.
• Experience with FEA software tools.
• Proven track record of producing and reviewing engineering drawings, models, and calculations to a high standard of quality.
• Experience leading design reviews and managing engineering change processes (ECR/ECO).
• Track record of mentoring other engineers and elevating team capability.
• Direct experience interfacing with customers on technical matters.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical execution of custom equipment projects — CAD modeling in Autodesk Inventor, design reviews, engineering calculations, and FEA
• Own the quality of engineering deliverables across your projects, including drawings, customer submittals, and documentation
• Manage the engineering change process: triage ECRs, review and close out ECOs, and maintain basis of design documentation
• Mentor Design Engineers through hands‑on guidance, model reviews, and constructive feedback that builds real capability
• Collaborate across functions — fabrication, assembly, controls, manufacturing engineering, and purchasing — to keep designs producible and projects on track
• Serve as a primary technical contact for customers: lead design reviews, prepare approval submittals, and communicate directly on technical matters
• Source and qualify vendors, review vendor drawings, and conduct technical evaluations
• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (internal and external), system integration, quality activities, and commissioning
• Generate engineering standards, design calculators, and administer the CAD environment

Skills

Mechanical design

Autodesk Inventor

FEA

Engineering drawings

ECR/ECO

Mentoring

Customer interfacing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Job description

Rheo Engineering is seeking a Senior Design Engineer to own the technical quality of custom powder handling equipment for pharma projects. You will lead CAD modeling in Autodesk Inventor, run engineering calculations and FE analyses, and drive design reviews with cross-functional teams on tight deadlines.

You’ll mentor junior engineers, coordinate with fabrication, controls and purchasing, and serve as the main technical interface for customers and vendors.