Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer 

Application Engineering | Peoria, IL (In-Person) | Full-Time | Relocation Assistance Provided

Compensation: $95,000 – $145,000 

Every project is different. Every customer has a problem nobody has solved quite this way before. If that excites you more than running the same product through the same process, keep reading. 

Rheo Engineering designs and manufactures advanced powder handling equipment and integrated systems for the pharmaceutical industry. Our equipment is used in the direct manufacture of life-saving medicine around the world. We design and build everything on-site, from highly engineered containment systems to fully automated material handling lines. You’ll see your designs go from a model on your screen to a finished system on our shop floor. 

We run two engineering teams: New Product Development builds and maintains Rheo’s standard product lines, while Application Engineering — the team this role sits on — works directly with our project management team and customers to turn unique requirements into custom-engineered solutions, often under tight deadlines and real constraints. If you thrive on variety and solving problems, this is the team for you. 

We’re looking for a Senior Design Engineer who wants to own the technical quality of that work in a technical leadership role. You will have the opportunity to shape the Design framework and trajectory of our Application Engineering team and be a critical part of developing and mentoring Design Engineers. You’ll be looked up to and relied on throughout the team for the influence and expertise you bring. 

What You’ll Do 

• Lead the technical execution of custom equipment projects — CAD modeling in Autodesk Inventor, design reviews, engineering calculations, and FEA 

• Own the quality of engineering deliverables across your projects, including drawings, customer submittals, and documentation 

• Manage the engineering change process: triage ECRs, review and close out ECOs, and maintain basis of design documentation 

• Mentor Design Engineers through hands-on guidance, model reviews, and constructive feedback that builds real capability 

• Collaborate across functions — fabrication, assembly, controls, manufacturing engineering, and purchasing — to keep designs producible and projects on track 

• Serve as a primary technical contact for customers: lead design reviews, prepare approval submittals, and communicate directly on technical matters 

• Source and qualify vendors, review vendor drawings, and conduct technical evaluations 

• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (internal and external), system integration, quality activities, and commissioning 

• Generate engineering standards, design calculators, and administer the CAD environment 

What We’re Looking For 

• Significant professional experience in mechanical design engineering with demonstrated ownership of complex assembly design work from concept through release 

• Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent 3D CAD 

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) 

• Experience with FEA software tools 

• Proven track record of producing and reviewing engineering drawings, models, and calculations to a high standard of quality 

• Experience leading design reviews and managing engineering change processes (ECR/ECO) 

• Track record of mentoring other engineers and elevating team capability 

• Direct experience interfacing with customers on technical matters 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline 

Preferred Qualifications 

• PE license or active progress toward licensure 

• Experience in pharmaceutical, food processing, or other regulated manufacturing environments 

• Familiarity with powder handling or process equipment design 

• Knowledge of GMP, cleanability (CIP/WIP), process containment, or OEL/OEB requirements 

• Familiarity with project management practices and tools 

• Working knowledge of ASME codes, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and fabrication processes 

Why Rheo 

• Privately owned and operated for 30 years and counting 

• Excellent benefits – see section below 

• Smaller team (~100 team members) with a strong, in-person work culture 

• Quickly growing in a stable, regulated industry where precision engineering matters 

• Unique, impactful work – direct influence over the safe, reliable, and efficient production of medicine throughout the world 

• Vertically integrated – see what you design be built in the same building  

Benefits 

• Leading medical insurance — consistently low rates compared to other businesses in the area 

• Health Savings Account with employer contributions (plan-dependent) 

• Dental, vision, and life insurance 

• Short-term and long-term disability 

• Identity theft insurance 

• 401(k) with 4% employer match 

• Generous PTO 

• Paid paternity and maternity leave 

• Paid cell phone plan with stipend for a new phone every 2 years 

• Employee referral program 

Working Conditions 

Office-based with regular time on the manufacturing floor and at vendor and client sites. Travel up to approximately 10% of the time. Standard 8-hour workday; occasional overtime as needed. 

Rheo Engineering is an equal opportunity employer.