Mechanical / Design Integration Engineer

Job Summary:

The Mechanical / Design Integration Engineer will lead the effort to provide fully integrated manufacturing line(s) as a solution to customers. Integration will include the use of new and used processing and packaging equipment to meet the client's unique requirements. This role involves partnering with the sales team and their customers to provide engineering solutions primarily for food, beverage, nutraceutical, and related consumer packaged goods manufacturing operations to meet their production goals.

The Mechanical / Design Integration Engineer will understand critical requirements, develop concept design work for processing and packaging machine components, ensure specifications are achieved, support accurate cost estimating, quality and coordination reviews, and provide timely project management through the installation process. Food manufacturing experience is preferred but not required; candidates with strong mechanical design and equipment integration experience in comparable manufacturing environments are encouraged to apply. Experience with sanitary systems, hygienic equipment layouts, cleanability, maintainability, and integration of processing and packaging equipment in regulated production settings is valued. The Mechanical / Design Integration Engineer must be able to meet critical deadlines and work independently and as part of a team. This role will also involve mentoring the development of junior engineers and designers.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develop an understanding of customer production requirements.
• Work as a lead on project teams over other technical staff, assuring the work is accurate and coordinated and that customer expectations are fully realized.
• Listen to clients' needs and independently provide engineering solutions for their production requirements.
• Evaluate production and product requirements, machine parameters, and constraints, and design the line with some combination of new and used equipment to best optimize the customer's budget.
• Design change tooling or other required items for machine modifications.
• Communicate design recommendations to clients, project team, construction contractors, and vendors in presentations, meetings, via email, and by phone as necessary.
• Assist as a technical liaison between customer, SIGMA sales teams, SIGMA technical staff, as well as any involved OEMs.
• Work directly with automation firms or the in-house automation team to ensure that all machines are communicating appropriately to meet the project requirements.
• Provide timely services that meet the needs of the clients and the overall project schedule requirements.
• Stay abreast of relevant industry developments and technology advancements.
• Ensure development of consistent and high-quality project deliverables.
• Maintain appropriate contact with existing clients so that they think of the firm when services are needed.
• Troubleshoot and problem solve for existing customer-owned processing and packaging equipment.
• General knowledge to operate and maintain all processing and packaging equipment.
• Work cross-functionally between all teams, assisting with international and domestic solutions.
• Apply sanitary and hygienic design principles to mechanical layouts, equipment modifications, supports, guarding, and related design work, especially for food manufacturing applications.
• Evaluate processing and packaging applications for cleanability, washdown requirements, drainage, access for maintenance, and reduction of contamination or harborage risks.
• Incorporate food safety, quality, and operational requirements into line designs in coordination with customers, OEMs, fabricators, and internal teams when applicable.
• Support equipment integration reviews, installation planning, startup coordination, field verification, and troubleshooting for food manufacturing projects and similar manufacturing applications.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers in mechanical design development, layout review, and project coordination best practices.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in AutoCAD.
• Proficient in Google Suite.
• Proficient with Inventor or other 3D design software.
• Ability to read and understand drawings and technical specifications.
• Proficient in field investigations and measurements.
• Strong at 2D drawing creation and technical review for communication of a design in construction documents.
• Working knowledge of industry standards.
• Working knowledge of current safety standards for machine design.
• Interprets and ensures conformance to applicable standards and codes, as well as company policies and procedures.
• Works closely with engineers and other disciplines to ensure coordinated design systems.
• Experience executing multi-discipline designs in an integrated approach.
• Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills, and sensitivity to the need to adapt personal behavior quickly when needed to effectively communicate and coordinate with others.
• Good attention to detail and the ability to recognize discrepancies.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Experience with client budget development and return on investment constraints.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.
• Demonstrated experience with mechanical design and integration of food processing and/or food packaging equipment is preferred, but not required.
• Working knowledge of sanitary design principles, including material selection, cleanability, access, drainage, and hygienic layout considerations, is preferred.
• Ability to evaluate and coordinate mechanical, electrical, and automation interfaces within integrated manufacturing systems.
• Familiarity with equipment modifications, line upgrades, and plant-side implementation in food, beverage, or similar production environments is preferred.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Material Science, or a related engineering field.
• 3+ years of experience in a processing and/or packaging-focused manufacturing environment.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience developing and managing complex manufacturing projects.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience with electrical, mechanical, and automation functions of manufacturing operations for processing and packaging equipment.
• Direct experience with sanitary or hygienic equipment design, line integration, equipment modification, or project execution in food manufacturing facilities is preferred, but not required.

About Our Company:

SIGMA Group is an employee-owned company based in Evansville, Indiana, with 120 team members supporting manufacturers worldwide. Since 2003, we’ve helped companies in the food, beverage, packaging, and consumer goods industries buy, sell, appraise, integrate, and manage production equipment.

Our goal is simple: extend the life of valuable assets and make equipment easier to move, reuse, or resell. By doing so, we help our customers recover value, reduce waste, and keep production moving all while supporting a more sustainable, circular economy.

What We Offer:

As an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company, our culture revolves around innovation, creative solutions and the tenacity to see them through. Our casual offices are filled with passionate people who work hard and play hard. We welcome new ideas and offer opportunities for advancement within all teams!

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Flexible paid time off and paid holidays
• Team-building activities
• 401(k)
• ESOP participation