"Alerted.org

Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

North Carolina – Garner/Raleigh or Battleboro

Custom Automation & Packaging Machinery

I’m supporting a North Carolina manufacturer that designs, engineers, and builds fully custom automation and packaging systems in-house. They are hiring a **Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer** to take full ownership of machine development — from concept and prototyping through final testing and customer delivery.

This is **not** a task-taking role. Their VP and Director want a true technical leader who can drive mechanical development, make decisions, and guide projects without micromanagement.

Location Options

This role can sit at either:

+ **Raleigh, NC**

Relocation assistance + sign-on bonus. Immediate interviews and facility tours.

What You Will Lead

+ Full lifecycle mechanical design of custom and standard automation/packaging machinery using **SolidWorks** and structured Engineering Development / Stage-Gate processes.

+ **Technical ownership** of projects: schedule and run design reviews, coordinate with manufacturing, and control the mechanical development path.

+ **Prototype & build leadership:** Work with machinists, fabricators, and assembly technicians to validate, refine, and improve designs.

+ **Cross-functional integration:** Collaborate closely with Controls Engineering, Product Line Managers, R&D, and Service to ensure designs are reliable, manufacturable, and field-supportable.

+ **R&D pipeline execution:** Provide senior horsepower needed to launch new machine concepts waiting for development bandwidth.

+ **Mentorship & influence:** Coach mid-level engineers, elevate design standards, and set the benchmark for mechanical engineering excellence.

+ Create and manage 3D CAD models, layouts, BOMs, and detailed drawings.

+ Apply strong understanding of motors, actuators, pneumatics, sensors, drives, and automation components to guide mechanical decisions.

+ Lead prototype builds, debugging, and final machine testing.

+ Ensure project compliance with documentation, safety standards, design reviews, and Stage-Gate requirements.

+ Drive continuous improvement across design processes, tools, engineering workflows, and product quality.

+ Participate in assembly testing, competitive product evaluations, and process ECNs.

Why This Role Stands Out

+ You own machines **from concept → customer delivery**

+ **Zero red tape** — fast decisions and high engineering autonomy

+ **Deep in-house capability** : full machine shop, fabrication, assembly, controls, and testing

+ **Large R&D runway** for next-gen machines

+ High visibility with VP, Director, and Engineering leadership

+ Hands-on, technical leadership role—not management overhead

Required Background

+ 7+ years mechanical design experience in packaging machinery, industrial automation, or capital equipment.

+ Strong proficiency in **SolidWorks** and PDM/data management.

+ Proven success driving projects through formal engineering processes (Stage Gate, VA/VE, NPD, etc.).

+ Strong understanding of machine controls components (motors, drives, sensors, pneumatics, HMIs, PLC interfaces).

+ Hands-on experience with machining, fabrication, assembly, and DFM.

+ Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

+ Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

+ Deep mechanical systems knowledge and machine/tooling design experience.

+ Strong computer skills (CAD + Microsoft Office).

+ Independent, decisive, and able to work with minimal oversight.

Preferred Skills

+ GD&T

+ Simulation / stress / material analysis

+ MRP/ERP systems, multi-level BOMs

+ Strong engineering discipline and design standards

+ Desire to be hands-on with machinery and testing

What You Get

+ Competitive compensation + **relocation package + sign-on bonus**

+ Benefits active **Day 1** (medical, dental, life insurance, PTO, 401(k) with match)

+ Clear technical career advancement

+ Highly collaborative environment where innovation is implemented quickly

+ Stability, growth, and long-term engineering career potential

Interested? Apply now and let’s connect.

ManpowerGroup is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in a professional, high quality work environment. It is the policy of ManpowerGroup and all of its subsidiaries to recruit, train, promote, transfer, pay and take all employment actions without regard to an employee's race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.