Senior Mechanical Engineer IV - Communications

OTTO Engineering • Carpentersville, IL

1d • $110,000 - $125,000

About The Position

At OTTO, we don’t just manufacture products—we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Communications Division designs and manufactures ruggedized, application-specific communication systems built to perform when failure isn’t an option, serving the military, law enforcement, public safety, and industrial customers worldwide. As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues! Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company’s profits to celebrate our collective success. As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success. We are proudly American! Join a team where your engineering talent directly supports the people who protect and serve. At OTTO Engineering, we design and build innovative communications and power‑management products used by Public Safety professionals and Military teams around the world. You’ll help create rugged, reliable, and innovative products that professionals depend on every day. If you’re excited by meaningful engineering challenges and the chance to build technology that truly matters, this role is a great fit. Specifically, we are seeking experience with … Mechanical CAD (CREO preferred) Plastics, elastomers, die‑cast metals, overmolding, and mechanical integration with PCBs DFM/DFA, tolerance analysis, and environmental/ruggedization requirements Leading complex engineering projects with minimal supervision. As our Senior Mechanical Engineer IV, you will lead the mechanical design, development, and validation of ruggedized communication products—including speaker microphones, PTT devices, tactical headsets, and electromechanical assemblies—used in mission‑critical environments. The Senior Mechanical Engineer IV owns system‑level architecture, manages multiple product development efforts from concept through production release, and provides technical leadership across engineering, manufacturing, quality, vendors, and customers. This role requires high autonomy, advanced engineering expertise, and the ability to mentor and guide lower‑level engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Minimum 7 years of mechanical engineering experience, including extensive use of mechanical CAD (CREO preferred).
• Expertise in plastics, elastomers, die‑cast metals, overmolding, and mechanical integration with PCBs.
• Strong understanding of DFM/DFA, tolerance analysis, and environmental/ruggedization requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex engineering projects with minimal supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, hands‑on engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Define mechanical design concepts, system architectures, and performance specifications for ruggedized communication products that meet or exceed customer and marketing goals.
• Establish project schedules, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring alignment with customer expectations and internal development timelines.
• Perform advanced engineering analyses, including stress modeling, tolerance stack‑ups, thermal and environmental modeling, and statistical evaluation of test data using manual methods and CAE tools.
• Develop complete 3D CAD layouts of assemblies, subassemblies, and detailed components using CREO; review and approve designs created by lower‑level engineers.
• Prototype, test, and iterate designs to meet IP‑rated sealing, MIL‑STD durability, drop, vibration, and thermal cycling requirements.
• Prepare and approve engineering documentation, including drawings, BOMs, ECNs, specifications, and verification reports.
• Lead cross‑functional coordination across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, vendors, and customers to achieve project goals.
• Provide production and quality support, including root‑cause analysis, design improvements, and process troubleshooting for existing products.
• Participate in and guide MRB activities, including discrepant material reviews and component analysis.
• Serve as a technical leader, mentoring Mechanical Engineer I–III team members and driving engineering best practices.
• Assist with other related duties as required or assigned.

Benefits

• Profit Sharing Bonus
• Vacation: 120 hours
• Medical Insurance (HMO Plan, Standard PPO Plan, Enhanced PPO Plan, High Deducible PPO Plan)
• FSA, LFSA, and HSA
• Dental Insurance (Base Plan, Buy-Up Plan)
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with a company match
• Life insurance (Life/AD&D, Voluntary Life/AD&D)
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• 10 paid holidays
• Company picnic
• Holiday party
• Numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year

What This Job Offers

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