Project Mechanical Engineer

Graco•Dayton, MN

1d•$87,000 - $152,200•Onsite

About The Position

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. The ETM division develops transverse flux electric motors with superior torque density and efficiency. This role is within the R&D Center of Excellence in Flagstaff, Arizona, focusing on technology development and licensing. The Project Engineer will be a mechanical generalist responsible for the entire hardware lifecycle: analyzing, designing, drawing, sourcing, building, testing, and troubleshooting. This role involves creating new procedures as much as following existing ones, as much of the work lacks an established playbook.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical field.
4+ years of mechanical design and new product development experience, with demonstrated repeated success producing innovative and successful products.
Hands-On Capability: real time building, instrumenting, and testing your own hardware.
Design Tools: proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and the ability to produce manufacturing-ready drawings with sound GD&T.
Manufacturing Judgment: experience driving DFM and DFA on metal and plastic parts across processes such as machining, casting, stamping, extrusion, and injection molding.
Communication: articulate and concise in oral and written communication to a varied audience.
Ability to travel within the US and internationally on occasion.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and unrestricted basis.
This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, L-1, or employment-based permanent residence sponsorship).
Candidates working under temporary employment authorization, including F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, or similar programs, are not eligible for this position.

Nice To Haves

Electric motor design or manufacturing experience — laminations, windings, magnets, rotor and stator assembly.
Global industrial manufacturing experience.
Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Produce conceptual designs for motor and drive hardware, then carry them to detailed design: models, drawings, tolerance stacks, and the applicable standards.
Bracket problems with first-principles physics.
Provide appropriate structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis of designs using FEA and hand calculation.
Contribute to product specifications and translate customer and partner requirements into mechanical requirements.
Define and lead prototype builds and lab testing.
Verify assumptions with quick prototypes.
Troubleshoot motors and assemblies that don't behave as modeled, in the lab, on the line, or at a partner site — and drive the corrective action.
Build and improve fixtures, tooling, and test setups.
Create manufacturing-ready prints and work with machine shops, stampers, molders, and specialty suppliers.
Drive DFM and DFA on metal and plastic parts across machining, casting, stamping, extrusion, and injection molding.
Work with manufacturing and partner engineering teams on process development, first articles, and documentation.
Define and lead prototype development and lab and field tests.
Report project status and identify threats to schedule and cost early and communicate them clearly to the project team and to management before they become surprises.
Help build new standards, templates, and procedures.