Senior Project Engineer

Southern Systems International•Memphis, TN

11d

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Engineer / Technical Lead to play a critical role in the design, execution, and technical leadership of complex, custom conveyor systems. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys owning high-level technical decisions, guiding projects through ambiguity, and mentoring project engineers in a fast-paced ETO environment. This is a hands-on technical role with leadership responsibility — not a purely managerial position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field (required).
8–15+ years of experience in engineered-to-order (ETO) industrial systems
Strong experience with custom conveyor systems, material handling equipment, or similar industrial machinery
Demonstrated ability to: make high-level technical decisions
review and guide others’ designs
solve complex, real-world engineering problems
Solid understanding of fabrication, installation, and field realities
Experience mentoring or leading other engineers (formally or informally)
Proficient in AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor for layout development, system design, and design review in an ETO environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with power & free conveyor systems.
Familiarity with: structural design principles
industrial standards and codes
manufacturability and installation sequencing
Previous role as a technical lead, senior engineer, or principal engineer in an ETO environment

Responsibilities

Lead high-level engineering aspects of custom conveyor systems, including: system layouts and architecture
load paths and structural concepts
interfaces with fabrication, installation, and controls
Serve as the technical authority on assigned projects, particularly during early concept and critical design phases.
Support resolution of complex technical issues arising during fabrication, installation, or commissioning.
Evaluate design alternatives, deviations, and risk trade-offs to support cost, schedule, and quality objectives.
Conduct structured design reviews for project engineers’ work, ensuring: technical correctness
constructability
alignment with internal standards and customer requirements
Identify potential downstream issues early to reduce rework and field changes
Act as a final technical check before releasing of critical designs
Mentor and coach project engineers and junior engineers, helping them: develop sound engineering judgment
understand system-level thinking
improve design quality and efficiency
Provide guidance without becoming a bottleneck — enabling others to execute independently over time
Contribute to the development and refinement of engineering standards, best practices, and reusable design elements
Work closely with: project management
fabrication and manufacturing
field installation teams
Support clear communication of design intent and technical decisions across disciplines
Participate in customer discussions as needed to explain technical solutions or resolve issues