Mechanical Engineer IV

Smiths Group • Morton Grove, IL

1d

About The Position

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer IV to research, develop, and evaluate sealing technologies for energy and process industry applications. The role focuses on developing gas seals, wet seals, sealing systems, components, assemblies, and related technologies, with attention to performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness.

The engineer applies mechanical engineering principles to rotating equipment and sealing systems, creates and maintains engineering drawings and technical documentation, and performs engineering analyses including finite element analysis (FEA). The position also involves planning and carrying out product verification and validation, designing and evaluating prototype hardware, investigating product performance and failures, and improving designs based on analytical and physical test results.

The role collaborates with Product Management, Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, and other teams; manages development activities against objectives and schedules; and supports the transition of new products from development to production. The engineer also contributes to improvements in engineering tools, analysis methods, testing capabilities, and product development processes.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of relevant engineering experience.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to apply engineering fundamentals.
• FEA exposure and ability to interpret results; experience developing models, interpreting results, and validating analyses is listed among the qualifications.
• Hands-on experience leading, developing, and executing engineering test plans and validation protocols.
• Ability to support testing on site in Morton Grove.
• Project management experience.
• Personally driven engineering projects involving design or material evaluation, analysis, and hands-on testing.
• Proficiency in interpreting and creating mechanical drawings, GD&T, and engineering specifications.
• Knowledge of structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis methodologies.
• Ability to correlate analytical predictions with physical test results and drive design improvements from data.
• Strong technical documentation, communication, and project execution skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred; Chemical Engineering may be considered for a mechanically oriented candidate.
• A master’s degree is acceptable.
• Relevant R&D, field, refinery, petrochemical, or reliability experience, when supported by actual troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop, and evaluate gas seal, wet seal, and sealing system technologies for current and future business and market needs.
• Design and develop seal components, assemblies, and related technologies with attention to performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles to analyze rotating equipment, sealing systems, and component interactions.
• Create, interpret, and maintain engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation for new product development projects.
• Perform and interpret FEA and other engineering analyses to assess product performance, structural integrity, and design robustness.
• Develop, execute, and document product verification and validation plans, including laboratory and rig testing.
• Design, build, and evaluate prototype hardware to support concept development and product validation.
• Compare analytical predictions with test data and implement design improvements based on findings.
• Investigate product performance, test results, and developmental failures to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Generate and maintain engineering calculations, design records, test reports, and other documentation supporting the NPD process.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, and other cross-functional teams on technology and product development.
• Manage assigned development activities to achieve project objectives, schedules, and technical milestones.
• Support the transition of new products and technologies from development to production through design validation and technical documentation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering tools, analytical methods, testing capabilities, and product development processes.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Employee resource groups (ERGs), including Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity.
• Smiths Excellence Awards recognizing outstanding activities, people, and projects.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior