Design Project Leader

Strategic HR Client Job Openings • Cincinnati, OH

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About The Position

The Design Project Leader is a hands‑on engineering role responsible for taking existing machine designs and turning them into reliable, manufacturable, and sellable automation solutions. This position combines strong mechanical design expertise with technical project leadership and ownership across the full execution lifecycle. The role includes up to 30% travel.
This is not an R&D or concept‑only role. The focus is on industrialization, execution, and continuous improvement of automation systems in a lean, fast-moving environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Robotics or Mechanical Engineering
• Proficiency in CAD and engineering design tools, with Solid Edge preferred
• Mechanical design for automation or special-purpose machinery
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills
• Experience with industrial automation systems and manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience owning designs through build, test and delivery in a manufacturing environment

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting, testing, qualification and commissioning activities a plus

Responsibilities

• Own technical execution of automation projects from early design through build, test, and customer delivery
• Perform hands‑on mechanical design and refinement of automation and robotic systems
• Improve existing designs for manufacturability, reliability, cost, and assembly
• Lead technical coordination across engineering, manufacturing, procurement, suppliers, and customers
• Support quotation activities by providing technical input and feasibility insight
• Troubleshoot design and build issues, making sound engineering tradeoffs with quality as the top priority
• Evaluate and apply proven automation and robotics technologies to improve reliability, manufacturability and performance of existing machine designs
• Drive projects forward independently in a low‑structure environment, escalating only when appropriate
• Work directly with internal and external customers to gather requirements and translate them into technical specifications
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and quality requirements

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees