Senior Mechanical Design Engineer — Remote Automation

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health benefits

Remote-first culture

Premium software licenses

Development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design of advanced automation systems. The role is fully remote, coordinating with a distributed team of engineers, researchers, and product managers to deliver high-quality mechanical solutions worldwide.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of experience in mechanical design for automation, expert CAD/FEA skills, and strong leadership. Remote-first culture offers flexibility and global collaboration opportunities.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in mechanical design for automation/robotics.
• Expert-level proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 and SolidWorks Premium.
• Advanced skills in ANSYS Mechanical and Abaqus for dynamic/thermal analysis.
• Strong understanding of control systems, mechatronics, and integration with electronics/software.
• Experience with high-precision mechanisms, motion control, and system dynamics.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration in a remote environment.
• Self-motivated with strong time management and organization.
• Occasional travel for team meetings or critical project phases.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design of automation systems from concept through production.
• Use CAD software for 3D modeling, surfacing, and mechanism design.
• Perform dynamic, vibration, thermal analyses using FEA tools.
• Develop and document drawings, specifications, and BOMs.
• Collaborate with electrical, software, and controls teams.
• Oversee prototyping, testing, and validation activities.
• Drive DFM and DFA to optimize production.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team growth.
• Stay updated on robotics and automation trends.
• Manage technical aspects to ensure timely delivery.

Skills

Mechanical design

CATIA V5/V6

SolidWorks Premium

FEA analysis

Dynamic analysis

Thermal analysis

Mechatronics

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Project management

Education

Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA V5/V6

SolidWorks Premium

ANSYS Mechanical

Abaqus

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design of advanced automation systems. The role is fully remote, coordinating with a distributed team of engineers, researchers, and product managers to deliver high-quality mechanical solutions worldwide.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of experience in mechanical design for automation, expert CAD/FEA skills, and strong leadership. Remote-first culture offers flexibility and global collaboration opportunities.