Mechanical Engineering Technician

Position Summary

The Engineering Technician supports mechanical design, test-system development, automation projects, equipment improvements, and day-to-day engineering activities within the Test and Automation Engineering Department. This individual works primarily alongside the Senior Mechanical Engineer, providing CAD, drafting, prototyping, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and documentation support for test stands, fixtures, tooling, automated equipment, and related mechanical systems.

The technician will also broaden their manufacturing knowledge by shadowing Manufacturing Engineers and assisting them when requested. This cross-functional support may include production troubleshooting, process improvements, equipment installation, data collection, documentation, and other hands-on assignments.

Role Scope and Working Relationships

• Primary assignment: Support the Senior Mechanical Engineer and the priorities of the Test and Automation Engineering Department.

• Cross-functional development: Shadow and assist Manufacturing Engineers and other engineering personnel when assigned or requested.

• Key partners: Test and Automation Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Production, the Toolroom, suppliers, and equipment integrators.

• Priority alignment: Coordinate competing requests through the Senior Mechanical Engineer and Senior Engineering Manager so that critical work remains properly prioritized.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design and Engineering Support

• Assist the Senior Mechanical Engineer with the creation and revision of 3D CAD models, mechanical assemblies, detailed drawings, and bills of material.

• Develop or modify straightforward mechanical components such as brackets, guards, enclosures, fixtures, tooling, workholding devices, material-handling components, and test-equipment parts under appropriate engineering direction.

• Take field measurements of existing equipment and components and convert those measurements into accurate models, drawings, and design inputs.

• Support component selection, fit and function reviews, tolerance evaluations, design reviews, and design-for-assembly or design-for-maintenance activities.

• Build, assemble, and modify prototypes, test fixtures, test stands, automation equipment, and mechanical subassemblies.

• Perform functional testing, record results, identify mechanical issues, and incorporate approved design revisions.

• Support the mechanical installation, alignment, checkout, debug, and validation of new or modified test and automation equipment.

Test, Automation, and Equipment Support

• Provide hands-on mechanical support for test systems, automated equipment, machine guarding, fixtures, tooling, workstations, sensors, actuators, and material-presentation devices.

• Work with electrical, controls, software, and test engineers to ensure mechanical designs support wiring, controls, service access, safe operation, and reliable testing.

• Assist with equipment troubleshooting and help isolate mechanical causes of test failures, repeatability problems, jams, wear, misalignment, vibration, or other performance concerns.

• Support preventive-maintenance planning by helping document wear items, spare parts, adjustment points, inspection requirements, and recommended service activities.

• Assist with vendor communications, technical information, component research, quotations, and the tracking of purchased parts or fabricated components.

Manufacturing Engineering and Production Support

• Shadow Manufacturing Engineers to learn assigned production cells, manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and recurring production concerns.

• Assist Manufacturing Engineers with troubleshooting fixtures, tooling, machines, workstations, material flow, and other production issues when requested.

• Collect and organize information such as cycle time, downtime, scrap, rework, equipment observations, and dimensional measurements to support root-cause analysis and corrective actions.

• Support production trials, process changes, equipment installations, workstation improvements, layout changes, ergonomic improvements, mistake-proofing, and continuous-improvement activities.

• Provide temporary hands-on engineering support during equipment startups, changeovers, validation runs, and urgent production issues, while communicating findings to the responsible engineer.

Documentation and Project Coordination

• Create and update controlled mechanical drawings, bills of material, equipment documentation, test records, work instructions, job instructions, spare-parts lists, and other assigned technical documents.

• Follow established engineering-change, revision-control, document-control, and approval processes.

• Maintain organized CAD files, project records, test results, action lists, and supporting photographs or measurements.

• Document project status, open issues, completed work, and next steps clearly enough for another team member to understand and continue the work.

• Help coordinate fabrication, procurement, assembly, and delivery activities for assigned parts, fixtures, tooling, or equipment improvements.

Safety and Continuous Improvement

• Follow all company safety requirements, required PPE, machine-safety practices, and applicable lockout/tagout procedures.

• Identify and promptly communicate potential hazards involving guarding, pinch points, ergonomics, equipment access, or mechanical integrity.

• Design and modify equipment with consideration for safe operation, serviceability, maintainability, quality, and ease of use.

• Participate in 5S, root-cause analysis, Kaizen, and other continuous-improvement activities as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, CAD/Drafting, Manufacturing Technology, or a closely related technical field; an equivalent combination of relevant education and hands-on experience may be considered.

• Relevant experience in mechanical design support, test equipment, automation equipment, tooling, fixtures, manufacturing, equipment maintenance, or a similar technical environment.

• Ability to create and revise 3D CAD models and mechanical drawings; SolidWorks experience is strongly preferred.

• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, specifications, bills of material, and technical documentation.

• Working knowledge of common mechanical components, materials, fasteners, bearings, mechanisms, and fabrication methods.

• Ability to use common measuring tools such as calipers, micrometers, tape measures, scales, and height gauges.

• Hands-on mechanical aptitude with the ability to assemble, adjust, test, and troubleshoot equipment safely.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn company engineering, document-control, and ERP systems.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, communication, teamwork, and follow-through.

• Ability to manage multiple assignments and seek clarification when priorities, scope, or design authority are unclear.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of relevant experience in a manufacturing, test-engineering, automation, machine-building, or mechanical-design environment.

• Familiarity with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance stack-up, and drawing-release practices.

• Experience with machine-shop, sheet-metal, welding, additive-manufacturing, or other fabrication processes.

• Basic knowledge of pneumatics, hydraulics, industrial sensors, actuators, robotics, or automated machinery.

• Experience with ERP, engineering-change, or controlled-document systems.

• Exposure to Lean manufacturing, 5S, root-cause analysis, or continuous-improvement methods.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in both an engineering-office setting and an active manufacturing environment.

• The role requires regular interaction with production equipment and may involve standing, walking, bending, reaching, climbing steps, and working around moving machinery and industrial noise while using required PPE.

• Must be able to safely move and handle tools, fixtures, parts, and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Occasional schedule flexibility may be required to support equipment installations, production trials, or urgent technical issues.

Success in This Role

• Provides accurate, timely, and dependable mechanical design and hands-on technical support.

• Completes drawings, documentation, testing, and assigned project work with strong attention to detail.

• Works safely and collaborates effectively across Test and Automation Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations.

• Communicates progress, risks, questions, and technical findings clearly and promptly.

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