Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
About The Position
Modern Packaging, a ProMach company, is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead mechanical development, redesign, and modernization of food packaging machinery. Based at the company’s Deer Park, New York location, the role reports to the Director of Engineering. The engineer will help create the next generation of sanitary, modular, high-performance equipment for food production environments, with a focus on hygienic design, washdown conditions, and high-throughput packaging applications. The position combines mechanical design leadership and hands-on engineering execution. It includes redesigning existing equipment into a standardized, modular platform; designing packaging systems and components; developing 3D CAD models, assemblies, and drawings; and applying engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, material selection, and DFM/DFA principles. The engineer will lead technical reviews, mentor junior engineers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and oversee prototype builds, testing, validation, and corrective design improvements. The role also owns engineering documentation, revision control, and design release processes. ProMach describes an open, communicative environment that encourages individual initiative and career growth. Employees receive salary, medical and dental programs, life insurance, paid time off, and a retirement savings plan with company match. Benefits are available from the first day of employment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology (BSME or BSMET), a similar engineering or technical degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent industry experience in mechanical design.
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical design, preferably in packaging machinery, food processing equipment, or industrial automation.
- Strong proficiency with 3D CAD tools; Inventor is preferred.
- Proven experience with DFM/DFA, machine frames, pneumatics, and filling, sealing, or capping systems.
- Familiarity with sanitary/hygienic design requirements and materials suited for food-contact or washdown zones, including 3-A and USDA Food Equipment Standards.
- Hands-on experience with mechanical testing, prototyping, and troubleshooting.
- Strong understanding of materials, machining, sheet metal fabrication, and mechanical tolerances.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with packaging machinery, food processing equipment, or industrial automation.
- Experience with Inventor.
Responsibilities
- Lead the redesign of existing equipment to create a standardized, modular mechanical platform optimized for food packaging operations.
- Integrate sanitary design principles, including washdown cleanability, smooth surfaces, appropriate materials, and food-safe construction methods.
- Evaluate mechanical systems and develop redesign strategies to improve OEE, simplify maintenance, and support efficient changeovers.
- Develop equipment architecture that supports scalability, product-format flexibility, and component commonality.
- Design mechanical systems for packaging applications such as sealing, motion mechanisms, film handling, and product dosing.
- Develop 3D CAD models, detailed assemblies, and complete engineering drawing packages.
- Perform engineering calculations and tolerance stack-up analyses, and select materials appropriate for sanitary environments.
- Apply DFM/DFA principles to high-volume or customized machinery builds.
- Lead technical reviews, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to engineering standards.
- Coordinate with Electrical, Controls, and Automation Engineering teams to ensure machine integration.
- Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, and Service teams to support machine builds, testing, and field performance.
- Direct prototype builds, functional testing, and iterative design improvements.
- Validate mechanical systems for food safety, durability, throughput, sealing integrity, film handling, and motion accuracy.
- Conduct root-cause analyses of failures and implement corrective design measures.
- Support FATs, SATs, and customer acceptance testing when required.
- Maintain engineering documentation, revision control, and design release processes.
- Contribute to mechanical design guidelines aligned with food packaging and sanitary requirements.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical and dental programs
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement savings plan with company match
- Benefits eligibility from the first day of employment
- Growth opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
