Mechanical Project Lead

Pipeline Design and Engineering•Tempe, AZ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Pipeline is seeking an experienced Mechanical Project Lead to guide customer projects while remaining actively involved in engineering. The role serves as the primary point of contact for assigned customers, leads multidisciplinary engineering teams, manages project schedules and budgets, and ensures deliverables meet Pipeline’s standards for quality and completeness. The ideal candidate has extensive hands-on experience designing custom automation, manufacturing equipment, and precision fixtures. They should be comfortable mentoring less-experienced engineers, leading technical discussions, managing competing priorities, and stepping in wherever necessary to keep projects moving forward. The position combines project leadership with mechanical engineering. The lead coordinates work across mechanical, controls, electrical, software, manufacturing, and assembly teams; communicates project requirements and risks; reviews engineering work; and prepares proposals and estimates. They also design and build custom equipment and fixtures, select automation components, conduct engineering analyses and feasibility testing, troubleshoot systems, and support equipment builds, installation, and customer acceptance. Work may be performed from Pipeline’s Tempe office, remotely from a home office, or in a combination of both, depending on project needs. Candidates must reside in the Phoenix metropolitan area and be able to work from the Tempe office as required. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Requirements

Must reside within the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Must be able to work from Pipeline’s Tempe office as project needs require.
Complete and return both the questionnaire and engineering exercises to be considered.
Use Solidworks 2025 or an earlier version for the engineering exercises.

Nice To Haves

Extensive hands-on experience designing custom automation, manufacturing equipment, and precision fixtures.
Comfort mentoring less-experienced engineers, leading technical discussions, managing competing priorities, and helping projects move forward.
Share photographs or videos of relevant projects supported.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customers and gather technical information, communicating requirements, decisions, and changes to the engineering team.
Define project tasks, assign responsibilities, and create and maintain project schedules.
Track project progress, budgets, risks, and outstanding decisions; communicate potential technical, schedule, and budget issues early.
Lead internal and customer-facing design reviews.
Coordinate work among mechanical, controls, electrical, software, manufacturing, and assembly team members.
Review engineering work to ensure deliverables are accurate, thorough, manufacturable, and consistently high quality.
Prepare formal proposals, project estimates, and quotes for prospective customer projects.
Mentor less-experienced engineers in mechanical design, machine design, automation, documentation, and engineering best practices.
Help develop and improve engineering workflows, standards, templates, and processes.
Resolve unexpected issues, fill gaps, and ensure important details are addressed.
Design custom manufacturing equipment, automated machines, and precision fixtures using Solidworks.
Select and integrate motion-control and automation hardware, including motors, linear actuators, pneumatic cylinders, sensors, vision systems, PLCs, and related components.
Select and implement off-the-shelf mechanical hardware, including toggle clamps, spring plungers, shoulder screws, dowel pins, bearings, gears, and linear-motion components.
Identify and source appropriate components from automation and industrial-hardware suppliers.
Design parts and assemblies for CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet-metal fabrication, weldments, and occasionally plastic injection molding.
Perform basic engineering analyses of components, assemblies, and mechanical systems.
Conduct project-specific research, development, and feasibility testing.
Assemble and test benchtop prototypes, fixtures, and mechanical systems.
Troubleshoot mechanical and electromechanical systems during assembly and commissioning.
Create manufacturing drawings, bills of materials, technical reports, test documentation, and other project deliverables.
Participate in technical meetings and design reviews with customers, vendors, and Pipeline team members.
Support equipment builds, testing, installation, and customer acceptance activities as needed.

Benefits

401(k)
Performance-based bonus and eligibility to participate in Pipeline’s profit-based bonus program.
Company parties.
Competitive salary.
Dental insurance and dental plans offered through the company.
Flexible schedule and flexible work-from-home options.
Free food and snacks.
Company contribution toward health-insurance coverage.
Health insurance.
Opportunity for advancement.
At least two weeks of paid time off.
Eight paid holidays and paid sick leave.
Profit sharing.
Training and development.
Vision insurance and vision plans offered through the company.