Mechanical Engineer Machine Design

Applied Aerospace and Defense - White Salmon•White salmon, WA

8d•$100,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineer plays a critical role in designing, developing, upgrading, and supporting specialized machines, tooling, and automated systems used to manufacture advanced composite parts and assemblies. This position combines engineering rigor, creativity, and practical hands-on execution to transform manufacturing requirements into reliable, efficient, and scalable equipment solutions that strengthen our operational capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Minimum five (5) years of relevant engineering experience in manufacturing, automation, or industrial equipment design.
Proven experience designing, fabricating, and commissioning custom machinery or industrial systems.
Strong knowledge of PLC controls, automation systems, and machine programming.
Ability to perform engineering calculations using sound first-principles methodology.
Advanced CAD skills in CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar design platforms.
Demonstrated creativity with a track record of innovative machine or tooling solutions.
Strong understanding of robust machine design, reliability, and manufacturability principles.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.
Must be able to provide proof of U.S. Person status due to ITAR requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with composites manufacturing, tooling design, heat transfer, or thermodynamics is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Design, build, test, and commission custom machines, tooling, and production equipment used in composite manufacturing.
Develop machine concepts that improve safety, quality, productivity, and manufacturing capability.
Program and troubleshoot control systems, PLCs, and user interfaces to meet process and operational requirements.
Create and maintain detailed engineering documentation including requirements, project plans, drawings, solid models, BOMs, operating procedures, and training materials.
Collaborate with operations, quality, engineering, and leadership teams to understand needs and deliver practical solutions.
Perform system testing and validation to ensure equipment reliability, repeatability, and performance.
Coordinate with vendors and internal fabrication teams to source components and maintain project timelines.
Identify opportunities for process automation, equipment enhancement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Apply hands-on fabrication knowledge using a variety of materials, tools, and mechanical systems.
Provide technical leadership and guidance to technicians, machinists, and team members as needed.
Support root cause analysis and corrective actions related to machine or process performance.