Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer

Tennant Company; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 98,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennant Company in Minneapolis, MN is seeking a Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer to model performance, evaluate subsystems, and help de-risk the roadmap for complex electro-mechanical robotic products. You will work with the Chief Engineer and Principal Robotic Systems Engineer to identify critical challenges and define viable design directions.

The role requires hands-on development of models, simulations, trade studies, and test plans, plus collaboration with design, controls, software,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of applicable professional experience in mechanical, electro-mechanical, robotic, systems, or complex product development.
• Strong engineering foundation with experience developing complex products, subsystems, or mechanisms.
• Experience applying engineering analysis, modeling, simulation, calculations, and test data to inform design decisions and evaluate technical trade-offs.
• Ability to translate system-level requirements into subsystem performance targets, design constraints, test methods, and decision criteria.
• Working knowledge of CAD, GD&T, tolerance analysis, materials, manufacturing processes, DFMEA, design reviews, and verification planning.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Chief Engineer and Principal Robotic Systems Engineer to identify critical subsystem challenges, capability gaps, and technical risks that affect the product roadmap.
• Develops performance models, simulations, calculations, and trade studies to support architecture decisions, subsystem selection, sizing, and design direction.
• Evaluates mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystem concepts against performance, cost, package, weight, efficiency, durability, manufacturability, serviceability, safety, and integration objectives.
• Translates product roadmap needs and system requirements into subsystem performance targets, design constraints, model assumptions, test plans, and development recommendations.
• Leads or supports early-stage development of selected subsystems, including concept generation, analysis, prototype planning, design reviews, test definition, and design iteration.
• Partners with mechanical design, electrical, controls, software, manufacturing, sourcing, service, quality, and validation teams to ensure subsystem solutions integrate cleanly into the full machine.

Skills

Performance modeling

Subsystem development

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Engineering analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Excel

CAD

Job description

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Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer

Location: United States - Minneapolis, MN

Pay: $97,500 - $150,600

With more than $1B in revenue, Tennant Company is a globally recognized leader in the cleaning equipment industry. For the past 150 years, we have been passionate about developing and manufacturing innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers. At Tennant Company, we are committed to stewardship and creating a cleaner, safer and healthier world. With manufacturing, operations and sales, service, and support functions across the globe, your journey at Tennant can take you places you never expected.

Model, Develop, and De-Risk the Subsystems That Enable Tennant’s Product Roadmap

The Sr Mechanical Systems Engineer is a technical role focused on performance modeling, concept evaluation, and subsystem development for complex electro-mechanical robotic products. Working closely with the Chief Engineer and Principal Robotic Systems Engineer, this role helps identify the critical mechanical challenges, subsystem capabilities, and technology gaps that must be solved to enable Tennant’s product roadmap.

This role bridges architecture, analysis, and execution. It develops models, simulations, calculations, trade studies, and test plans that support data-driven decisions about subsystem performance, feasibility, risk, cost, manufacturability, and integration. It also helps lead early development of selected mechanical and electromechanical subsystems with execution teams, turning roadmap needs and system requirements into validated concepts, design direction, and implementation plans.

This role:

• Works with the Chief Engineer and Principal Robotic Systems Engineer to identify critical subsystem challenges, capability gaps, and technical risks that affect the product roadmap.
• Develops performance models, simulations, calculations, and trade studies to support architecture decisions, subsystem selection, sizing, and design direction.
• Evaluates mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystem concepts against performance, cost, package, weight, efficiency, durability, manufacturability, serviceability, safety, and integration objectives.
• Translates product roadmap needs and system requirements into subsystem performance targets, design constraints, model assumptions, test plans, and development recommendations.
• Leads or supports early-stage development of selected subsystems, including concept generation, analysis, prototype planning, design reviews, test definition, and design iteration.
• Partners with mechanical design, electrical, controls, software, manufacturing, sourcing, service, quality, and validation teams to ensure subsystem solutions integrate cleanly into the full machine.
• Uses modeling and test data to identify key sensitivities, performance margins, failure modes, design trade-offs, and decision points.
• Defines and executes practical verification approaches for subsystem models, assumptions, prototypes, and performance claims.
• Helps convert subsystem learning into reusable design guidance, requirements, modeling methods, validation approaches, and engineering standards.
• Supports make/buy, supplier, and partner technology decisions by evaluating performance capability, technical risk, integration needs, and lifecycle implications.
• Communicates model results, assumptions, uncertainty, risks, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly to technical teams and leadership.
• Provides technical leadership to execution teams without direct authority and helps guide subsystem development from concept through validated design direction.

Required Skills and Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field required

Minimum of 5 years of applicable professional experience in mechanical, electro-mechanical, robotic, systems, or complex product development.

Strong engineering foundation with experience developing complex products, subsystems, or mechanisms.

Experience applying engineering analysis, modeling, simulation, calculations, and test data to inform design decisions and evaluate technical trade-offs.Ability to translate system-level requirements into subsystem performance targets, design constraints, test methods, and decision criteria.

Working knowledge of CAD, GD&T, tolerance analysis, materials, manufacturing processes, DFMEA, design reviews, and verification planning.Demonstrated ability to develop concepts, evaluate alternatives, plan prototypes and testing, analyze results, and make data-driven recommendations.

Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering and business teams and influence technical direction without direct authority.Strong analytical, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with performance modeling in areas such as mechanisms, drivetrains, fluid systems, actuation, structures, thermal behavior, energy usage, cleaning systems, or mobile robotic subsystems.
• Experience using analysis and modeling tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, and Excel.
• Experience applying engineering methods such as first-principles modeling, empirical modeling, sensitivity analysis, trade studies, model correlation, design margins, uncertainty analysis, tolerance analysis, or statistical analysis.
• Experience developing subsystem prototypes, test fixtures, instrumentation plans, validation methods, or correlation between models and physical test data.
• Experience in industrial vehicles, autonomous machines, mobile robots, cleaning systems, material handling equipment, or complex electro-mechanical products.
• Experience working with controls, software, sensing, actuation, power, or embedded systems teams on integrated subsystem development.
• Experience with DVP&R, DFMEA, structured problem solving, 8D, root cause analysis, design quality, DFSS, Six Sigma Green Belt, or similar continuous improvement methods.
• Experience designing and analyzing experiments, including DOE planning, factor selection, response measurement, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Experience translating technical learning into reusable design guidance, requirements, standards, or modeling practices.

Why This Role Matters:

• Shape the mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystems that enable Tennant’s future product roadmap.
• Use modeling and data to make better decisions earlier in development.
• Work closely with the Chief Engineer, Principal Mechanical Systems Engineer, and execution teams to turn architecture intent into validated subsystem solutions.
• Help teams de-risk critical mechanical challenges before they become program constraints.

Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. Tennant Sales and Service Co. reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualifications of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity. The salary range reflects both entry into the role and future growth. Total Compensation = Base Salary + Benefits

Benefits = A comprehensive benefits package including multiple medical plan options, 401(k) with a 100% match up to 6%, paid vacation time, 8 paid company holidays and 3 personal holidays dental and vision coverage, wellness rewards, robust family support programs, company‑paid disability and life insurance, and a full Employee Assistance Program.

Defining Our Employee Value Proposition

At Tennant Company, we…

Discoverfulfilling work with opportunities for growth and meaningful recognition.
Drivethe quality and innovation our customers rely on in our products and services.
Connectwith people who care about each other, ourbrandsand our communities.

These are the principles that define how our employees experience Tennant Company, make Tennant a great place to grow your career, and are at the core of our legacy and future.Together, they serve as guideposts for working with our customers, our partners and one another.

Begin your journey with us. Let's reinvent how the world cleans.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tennant Company is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made on the basis of individual skill, ability, reliability, productivity, and other factors important to performance. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or any other basis protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.