Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Title: Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
Location: Chicago (Ravenswood area)
Hire Type: Direct Hire OR Indefinite contract

Compensation: $160k-170K yrly

Benefits:Comprehensive Benefit Package
Must have Skill Set: Strong Leadrship Skills

About the Opportunity

Join a global leader in advanced product development and manufacturing solutions serving highly regulated industries. This organization partners with some of the world’s most recognized brands to design, develop, and manufacture complex, high-performance products used worldwide.

They are expanding capabilities and seeking an experienced Technical Leader / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to drive innovation, lead mechanical design efforts, and guide multidisciplinary teams through the full product development lifecycle.

Position Overview

This is a high-impact leadership role for a results-driven engineer with strong mechanical design expertise and proven success leading cross-functional teams. You will oversee multiple programs, solve complex engineering challenges, and ensure designs are optimized for performance, manufacturability, and scalability.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in fast-paced product development environments and enjoys mentoring engineers while shaping next-generation products.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate mechanical design activities across one or more product development programs
Partner with cross-functional and multi-site teams to achieve technical and business objectives
Define priorities, timelines, and resource needs for engineering programs
Develop and communicate technical action plans internally and externally
Identify risks early and recommend practical solutions balancing cost, timing, and requirements
Design, build, and test prototypes to evaluate product performance
Solve complex technical challenges throughout development and commercialization
Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
Collaborate with tooling, automation, and manufacturing teams for high-volume production readiness
Mentor and guide junior engineers and technical contributors

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
7+ years of product development or mechanical design engineering experience
Strong knowledge of regulated industry standards (FDA, ISO, or similar)
Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and related engineering software
Experience leading technical aspects of product/device development programs
Background in high-volume manufacturing, injection molding, and automation

Preferred Skills

Strong leadership, communication, and team collaboration skills
Ability to work effectively across multiple locations and functions
Experience in consulting or client-facing engineering environments
Basic understanding of electronics and software integration

Why Consider This Role?

Lead high-visibility engineering programs with real business impact
Work on innovative products used globally
Collaborate with world-class engineering and manufacturing teams
Strong growth opportunity within an expanding global organization

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.