Design Engineer

Design Engineer – Custom Engineered Equipment

Location: Gurnee, IL

Schedule: 1st Shift | On-Site

Salary: $70,000–$80,000/year

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire | 9 months

Degree: Not Required

Design Custom Equipment From Concept to Production

Aegis Worldwide is partnered with a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer with more than 100 years of industry experience that specializes in highly customized industrial equipment and engineered-to-order products.

This is a unique opportunity for a Mechanical Design Engineer who wants to be close to the product and the people building it. Rather than designing one small component within a massive engineering organization, you'll work directly with experienced engineers, fabricators, and manufacturing personnel to turn customer requirements into equipment that is actually built in the shop.

The company has built a strong reputation for quality and engineering expertise over generations, while maintaining a laid-back, down-to-earth culture with an open-door environment.

What You'll Do

• Design and modify custom mechanical equipment, tanks, components, and large assemblies using SolidWorks.
• Create detailed fabrication drawings, weldment prints, BOMs, dimensions, tolerances, and manufacturing documentation.
• Work directly with the shop floor to answer drawing questions and troubleshoot fit, fabrication, and manufacturing issues.
• Design equipment around real-world manufacturing and fabrication processes.
• Manage engineering changes and maintain accurate BOM, routing, ERP, and PDM information.
• Work with multiple custom projects and engineering changes simultaneously.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, and Manufacturing to establish priorities and meet project deadlines.
• Develop knowledge of ASME pressure-vessel requirements and other applicable design standards as you grow in the role.
• Help improve designs to make them easier and more efficient for the shop to manufacture.

What We're Looking For

Required:

• 2+ years of mechanical design or drafting experience involving machinery, fabricated equipment, or manufactured products.
• Strong SolidWorks experience, including parts, assemblies, and detailed manufacturing/fabrication drawings.
• Experience designing weldments or fabricated metal components.
• Understanding of how mechanical components are actually fabricated, welded, and assembled.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, dimensions, tolerances, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Comfortable working directly with engineers and manufacturing personnel to troubleshoot design issues.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple custom projects and design changes.
• Independent thinker who enjoys working in a close-knit team.

Preferred:

• Experience with custom or engineered-to-order machinery, tanks, pressure vessels, or process equipment.
• Experience with large SolidWorks assemblies, PDM, BOMs, or ERP systems.
• Knowledge of ASME pressure-vessel requirements or Codeware.
• OEM or machine-building experience.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Design, Drafting, or a related technical field.

Experience is more important than a degree for this position.

Why This Opportunity?

• 100+ years of history and a strong reputation within the industry.
• Join a fourth-generation, family-owned company where employees are treated like part of the family.
• Work on fully custom, engineered-to-order equipment rather than repetitive product designs.
• Make a significant impact in a smaller engineering organization where your work is highly visible.
• Work directly with the manufacturing team and see your designs go from SolidWorks to the shop floor to a finished product.
• Open-door culture with minimal corporate red tape.
• Close collaboration with experienced engineers and skilled tradespeople.
• Opportunity to develop deeper expertise in pressure vessels, fabrication, custom equipment, and mechanical design.
• Strong platform for someone who wants to become a key engineering resource rather than just another designer in a large department.

Benefits

• Full benefits upon conversion
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with 5% company match
• 9 paid holidays
• Annual holiday bonus of up to $1,000+

Schedule & Compensation

1st Shift | On-Site

Salary: $70,000–$80,000

Candidates with exceptional experience may be considered up to approximately $85,000.

Employment: 9-month contract-to-hire

Start Date: ASAP

Interview Process

1. Video interview with the Engineering Manager.
2. On-site interview with Engineering and company leadership.

If you're a mechanical designer who enjoys custom equipment, hands-on engineering, and working directly with the people who build what you design, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a company with an unusually long and successful history.