Senior Mechanical Engineer

6AM City, LLC; Illinois; On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

6AM City, LLC is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to develop and validate electro‑mechanical pan‑and‑tilt and tripod systems. You will translate customer requirements into robust mechanical designs and lead cross‑functional projects from concept through validation and production support.

The role emphasizes hands‑on testing, first principles analysis, and close collaboration with manufacturing and suppliers to ensure design for manufacturability and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
• 5+ years in mechanical engineering with electro‑mechanical systems.
• Experience with motion control components and validation.
• Strong design, testing, and documentation skills.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 environmental testing.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer requirements into mechanical specifications.
• Perform first-principles analysis: structures, heat transfer, dynamics.
• Design electro-mechanical assemblies for pan-and-tilt and tripods.
• Balance testing, design, and supplier support to ensure robust systems.
• Lead projects from requirements to production handoff.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and suppliers for DFx.
• Document designs, analyses, and test plans.

Skills

5+ yrs exp

Electro-mechanical design

Motion control

First principles

Test & validation

Prototype testing

Supplier support

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

FEA

PDM systems

3D CAD

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical EngineerJob Description

This Senior Mechanical Engineer role focuses on the development and customization of pan-and-tilt positioning systems and tripod products. You will support both custom product modifications and new product development, evaluating customer requirements, performing engineering analysis, selecting motion control components, and leading efforts from concept through validation and production support. The position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys combining analytical design work with hands-on testing of electro-mechanical systems and motion control assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate customer requirements and translate them into clear mechanical and electro-mechanical design specifications.
• Perform engineering analysis using first principles, including structures, heat transfer, statics, dynamics, and motor sizing, to recommend sound design choices.
• Design and develop electro-mechanical assemblies and subassemblies for pan-and-tilt positioning systems and tripod products, rather than focusing solely on individual parts.
• Allocate approximately 40% of time to testing and analysis, including selecting motors, drives, sensors, and encoders through performance calculations and hands‑on testing.
• Allocate approximately 30% of time to design and simulation, including CAD modeling (preferably in SolidWorks), structural analysis, and finite element analysis (FEA).
• Allocate approximately 30% of time to supplier and manufacturing support, including electro‑mechanical component selection, supplier interaction, and resolving production issues.
• Develop and validate electro‑mechanical systems, ensuring that precision motion control components such as encoders, motors, bearings, and supporting structures work together reliably.
• Specify and execute relevant tests, including those associated with MIL-STD-810, to validate component and subsystem performance under environmental and operational conditions.
• Lead projects from requirements elicitation through design, testing, production handoff, and after‑sales support, ensuring technical integrity and timely delivery.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including manufacturing and suppliers, to address design for manufacturability, troubleshoot production issues, and support continuous improvement.
• Support both new product development initiatives and custom product modifications to meet specific customer and application needs.
• Document designs, analyses, test plans, and results clearly to support ongoing product development, quality assurance, and future design iterations.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent engineering discipline with adequate related experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in a mechanical engineering role.
• Proven experience designing and validating electro-mechanical systems, particularly those involving motion control components.
• Strong technical thinking ability with a solid foundation in first principles, including structures, heat transfer, statics, dynamics, and motor sizing.
• Familiarity with full system architecture of precision motion control systems, including encoders, motors, bearings, and structural elements.
• Demonstrated ability to design assemblies and subassemblies, not just individual components, within complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Comfort with hands‑on testing and validation of mechanical and electro-mechanical systems.
• Ability to perform performance calculations and interpret test results to inform design decisions.
• Experience supporting supplier and manufacturing activities, including component selection and resolution of production issues.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• SolidWorks CAD experience, including 3D modeling and drawing creation for mechanical assemblies and subassemblies.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) for structural analysis and design validation.
• Familiarity with Product Data Management (PDM) systems for managing design files and engineering documentation.
• Experience with motion control loop development for stepper and servo‑based systems.
• Knowledge of component and subsystem level validation methods and practices.
• Project leadership experience, including guiding efforts from requirements elicitation through design, testing, production launch, and after‑sales support.
• Experience specifying and executing tests associated with MIL-STD-810 or similar environmental and durability standards.
• Background in Aerospace, Automotive, Automation, or Industrial Equipment industries is preferred.
• Experience in research and d