Senior Mechanical Engineer

Mission Design & Automation; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

PTO and holidays

Overtime pay

Cell phone stipend

Professional development

Travel premium pay

Profit-sharing bonuses

Job summary

Mission Design & Automation is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical design of custom automated equipment from concept through installation. You will mentor developing engineers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive projects to meet quality, schedule, and budget goals.

This role offers ownership, hands-on problem solving, and opportunities to influence technical direction while delivering real, customer-facing solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• 5 years of experience designing automation machinery systems
• Proficient in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, MS Office, and standard design practices
• Proven ability to lead projects from concept to production
• Excellent written and verbal communication

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and documentation of custom automated equipment from concept through startup
• Develop reliable, cost-efficient mechanical solutions meeting specs and standards
• Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Review designs for manufacturability, quality, and compliance
• Support sales/quoting with conceptual designs and cost estimates
• Drive projects with ownership and minimal supervision

Skills

Automation design

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Analytical thinking

Project leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

MS Office

Job description

Why Join Mission?

At Mission Design & Automation, we build custom automation systems that solve real manufacturing challenges. Every project is different, every solution is engineered from the ground up, and every team member has a direct impact on the final result.

At Mission, you'll find:

• Challenging, custom automation projects—no repetitive production work.
• The opportunity to lead projects from concept through completion.
• A collaborative team where knowledge sharing and mentorship are part of the culture.
• Meaningful work that solves complex manufacturing challenges.
• Opportunities to grow professionally while helping develop the next generation of talented engineers, designers, and builders.
• The satisfaction of seeing your designs become real machines that customers rely on every day.

Learn more about life at Mission on our Careers Page: https://missiondesignauto.com/careers/

Position Summary:

We're looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer who wants to make an impact.

In this role, you’ll lead the mechanical design of custom automated equipment from concept through installation, solve complex engineering challenges, mentor developing engineers, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver high‑quality systems on time and within budget. You’ll have the opportunity to influence technical direction, improve engineering standards, and see your designs come to life.

If you enjoy designing custom machinery, taking ownership of challenging projects, mentoring others, and turning ideas into solutions, we’d like to meet you.

Location:

Full‑time, hourly position onsite in Holland, MI. Standard business hours are 7am-3:30pm.

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay: $85,000 – $120,000 based on experience and hours worked.

We also offer:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid company holidays
• Overtime pay for eligible positions (time and a half over 40 hours)
• Cell phone stipend for eligible positions
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Company-sponsored lunches, events, and team activities
• Access to employee resources and exclusive partner discounts
• Premium pay for travel
• Profit‑sharing bonuses

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the mechanical design, development, and documentation of custom automated equipment from concept through startup, giving you ownership of the entire engineering process
• Develop innovative, reliable, and cost‑effective mechanical solutions that meet customer specifications, industry standards, and internal engineering best practices
• Serve as the technical lead for assigned projects, making sound engineering decisions while identifying and mitigating technical risks throughout the project lifecycle
• Have the opportunity to mentor, coach, and train entry‑level and junior mechanical engineers by providing technical guidance, design reviews, and professional development opportunities
• Review mechanical designs prepared by other engineers to ensure accuracy, manufacturability, quality, compliance with design standards, and adherence to customer requirements
• Collaborate closely with Mechanical Engineering Management, Project Managers, Controls Engineers, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Assembly, Service, and other cross‑functional teams to ensure successful project execution
• Communicate project status, technical challenges, design changes, and schedule impacts to management and project stakeholders in a timely and effective manner
• Ensure assigned projects are completed within the approved scope of work, schedule, and budget while maintaining high standards of quality and customer satisfaction
• Have the autonomy to make decisions and drive projects forward with minimal supervision
• Document, evaluate, and communicate engineering changes, technical issues, and lessons learned to support continuous improvement and knowledge sharing
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and project planning meetings to improve product quality, reliability, manufacturability, and project execution.
• Support the sales and quoting process by developing conceptual machine designs, evaluating technical feasibility, estimating engineering effort, and providing input on material costs and project risks
• See your team’s designs come to life through machine startup, debugging, customer acceptance, and successful production implementation

What You Bring:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field OR equivalent technical experience
• 5 years of experience designing automation machinery systems
• Proficient in SolidWorks (or equivalent 3D modeling software), AutoCAD (or equivalent), Microsoft Office, and typical machine design practices
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems using sound engineering principles, analytical thinking, and data‑driven decision‑making
• Proven experience leading engineering projects from concept through production, including managing schedules, priorities, and cross‑functional collaboration
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross‑functional teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience mentoring, coaching, and developing junior engineers
• Experience with custom automation, machine design, or manufacturing systems

Travel:

Travel up to 10% may be required for customer installations and support, including domestic and occasional international travel. Premium pay is provided for travel.

What It’s Like to Work Here:

At Mission, we believe great engineering starts with great people.

You’ll work alongside experienced professionals who enjoy solving difficult problems, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another. We value accountability, trust, continuous improvement, and taking pride in building quality equipment.

Whether you’re commissioning a machine, helping a teammate overcome a technical challenge, or celebrating a successful customer startup, your work has a visible impact on our customers and our team.

Why West Michigan?

West Michigan is more than a great place to work. It is a great place to build your life.

West Michigan offers:

• A strong manufacturing and engineering economy
• An affordable cost of living compared to many major metropolitan areas
• A variety of communities, from urban cities to small towns or rural areas, all within a reasonable commute
• Welcoming communities, quality schools, and short commute times that support a healthy work‑life balance
• Easy access to both the lakeshore and the city with Holland located just 10 miles from Lake Michigan and 25 miles from downtown Grand Rapids
• Year‑round recreation, including beaches, parks, hiking and biking trails, skiing, festivals, local restaurants and breweries, arts and culture, and professional sports

Whether you’re looking to advance your engineering career, enjoy an active lifestyle, or put down roots in a growing community, West Michigan offers the opportunity to do all.