Senior Mechanical Design Lead for Custom Automation

CHL Systems; Souderton (Montgomery County); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) with company match

PTO & holidays

Job summary

CHL Systems, a family-owned manufacturer of custom automation and material handling solutions, is seeking a Senior Project Design Engineer in a hands-on role.

You will own complex mechanical designs, mentor engineers, and partner with customers and internal teams to deliver reliable systems from concept through implementation. Strong SolidWorks skills and leadership are essential for success in our on-site environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 8+ years of mechanical design experience in material handling, conveyance systems, automated equipment, or industrial equipment.
• Advanced SolidWorks modeling, including large assemblies.
• Experience leading complex design projects and making technical decisions.
• Strong understanding of mechanical power transmission, manufacturability, and system reliability.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design for material handling systems, automated equipment, custom machinery, and industrial solutions.
• Define system architecture, major component selection, and overall engineering approach.
• Develop and review SolidWorks designs for large or complex assemblies.
• Provide technical oversight to ensure designs meet performance, manufacturability, reliability, and customer requirements.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support conceptual design, direction, manufacturability, and project execution.
• Guide engineering teams through complex design challenges, design reviews, and technical decision-making.
• Mentor Project Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Designers, and Detailers.
• Support engineering standards, design practices, continuous improvement efforts, and strategic initiatives.
• Provide technical support on critical engineering challenges across multiple projects when needed.

Skills

Mechanical design

Project leadership

Customer collaboration

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Join Our Engineering Team

CHL Systems is hiring a Project Design Engineer to lead the design of complex mechanical systems, material handling equipment, and custom automation solutions. This is a full-time role for an experienced mechanical design engineer who can own challenging design work, make sound technical decisions, collaborate directly with customers and internal teams, and mentor developing engineers from concept through implementation.

Join Our Engineering Team

CHL Systems is hiring a Project Design Engineer to lead the design of complex mechanical systems, material handling equipment, and custom automation solutions. This is a full-time role for an experienced mechanical design engineer who can own challenging design work, make sound technical decisions, collaborate directly with customers and internal teams, and mentor developing engineers from concept through implementation.

Why Join CHL Systems?

• Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, PTO, and paid holidays
• Family-owned company with 65+ years of manufacturing excellence
• High-impact senior technical role with visibility across engineering, manufacturing, and customer projects
• Opportunity to influence design standards, engineering practices, and project outcomes
• Collaborative environment working closely with engineering, manufacturing, sales, project management, and customers
• Visible role where your technical judgment helps shape solutions from concept through implementation
  
  
  

What You’ll Do

• Lead mechanical design efforts for complex material handling systems, automated equipment, custom machinery, and industrial solutions
• Define system architecture, major component selection, and the overall engineering approach for complex projects
• Develop and review designs in SolidWorks, including large or complex mechanical assemblies
• Provide technical oversight to ensure designs meet performance, manufacturability, reliability, and customer requirements
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support conceptual design, technical direction, manufacturability, and project execution
• Guide engineering teams through complex design challenges, design reviews, and technical decision-making
• Mentor Project Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Designers, and Detailers
• Support engineering standards, design practices, continuous improvement efforts, and strategic engineering initiatives
• Provide technical support on critical engineering challenges across multiple projects when needed
  
  
  

Required

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• 8+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably related to material handling, conveyance systems, automated equipment, custom machinery, or industrial equipment
• Advanced proficiency in mechanical system design and SolidWorks modeling, including large or complex assemblies
• Experience leading complex design projects and making sound technical decisions
• Strong understanding of mechanical power transmission, industrial equipment, manufacturability, and system reliability
  
  
  

Preferred

• Experience working directly with customers to develop technical solutions for operational or engineering challenges
• Prior experience mentoring engineers, designers, or detailers in a project-based engineering environment
• Background with custom automation, engineered-to-order equipment, or material handling systems
• Experience contributing to engineering standards, design practices, or continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical information clearly
  
  
  

This Could Be a Great Fit If You

• Enjoy owning complex mechanical design work from concept through implementation
• Are confident making technical decisions and guiding others through design challenges
• Like working on custom systems where each project may require a different engineering solution
• Communicate well with customers, engineers, manufacturing teams, project managers, and leadership
• Take pride in developing practical, reliable, manufacturable designs
• Want a senior-level role where your engineering judgment helps shape standards, improve practices, and influence project outcomes
• Are comfortable balancing customer needs, technical constraints, project timelines, and long-term equipment performance
  
  
  

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• This is an on-site role with work performed in office, engineering, manufacturing, and shop floor environments
• Regular interaction with cross-functional teams including engineering, manufacturing, sales, project management, production, and leadership
• Occasional local travel to customer sites may be required
• Exposure to typical manufacturing conditions such as noise, machinery, fabrication processes, and active production areas may occur when on the shop floor
• Must be able to safely navigate manufacturing and production areas
• Occasional walking, standing, bending, and movement throughout office, shop, or customer environments may be required
• May be required to lift light to moderate objects, typically up to 50 pounds
• Must be able to visually review drawings, inspect mechanical components, and evaluate production or installation work
• Occasional access to equipment areas may be required when supporting installations, reviews, or troubleshooting
  
  
  

About CHL Systems

For more than 65 years, CHL Systems has been a trusted leader in designing and manufacturing custom automation and material handling solutions. Serving the food, pharmaceutical, and general manufacturing industries, we combine innovation, craftsmanship, and a family-oriented culture to deliver high-quality systems that keep our customers’ operations moving.

Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V)